The heads of state or government of the European Union Member States pledged on the night of 24-25 February to support the Ukrainian civilian population and called on Russia and its armed forces to “respect international humanitarian law and allow safe and unhindered humanitarian access and assistance to those in need”, according to the conclusions adopted.
While 5 million people could be “displaced” by the conflict, according to Linda Thomas-Greenfield, the US ambassador to the UN, Irish Prime Minister Michael Martin announced, on his arrival in Brussels, an additional €10 million in humanitarian aid to deal with the humanitarian situation.
France, for its part, has announced an additional €300 million in aid to support the country’s economy.
“We are gravely concerned about the rapidly deteriorating situation and the ongoing military action in Ukraine”, the UN High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) commented on 24 February. “The humanitarian consequences on the civilian population will be devastating”, he added.
UNHCR “is working with the authorities, the UN, and other partners in Ukraine and is ready to provide humanitarian assistance wherever necessary and possible. To this end, security and access to humanitarian efforts must be guaranteed”.
See the European Council conclusions: https://www.consilium.europa.eu/en/press/press-releases/2022/02/24/european-council-conclusions-24-february-2022/?utm_source=dsms-auto&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=Conclusions +du+Conseil+europ%25u00e9en%2c+24+f%25u00e9vrier+2022 (Original version in French by Solenn Paulic and Camille-Cerise Gessant)