The strong condemnation of the Russian aggression against Ukraine and the need for unwavering, extensive and long-term support for the victims of this war in Ukraine - in the country and in neighbouring countries - were unanimous on Tuesday 1 March in the European Parliament’s Development Committee, following the speech by the European Commissioner for Crisis Management, Janez Lenarčič.
He addressed the humanitarian consequences of the war and the EU’s response, which was welcomed by MEPs alarmed at the risk of a major humanitarian disaster and calling for humanitarian corridors. On the same day, the UNHCR counted 660,000 refugees who had fled Ukraine, mostly to Poland, Hungary, Moldova, Romania and Slovakia.
“The EU and its Member States have accelerated military and humanitarian aid. It will be essential to continue the support in the coming months for the defence of our values, to protect our way of life, to fight for the values of freedom and peace”, said Tomas Tobé (EPP, Sweden), who invited the Commissioner, ahead of the vote on a European Parliament resolution (see other news).
“On the sixth day of Putin’s unleashed aggression, every hour that passes creates more suffering and displacement. The worst is yet to come”, warned the Commissioner, before detailing the EU’s response through its civil protection mechanism and in humanitarian aid.
To date, 24 EU countries [compared to 20 the day before - Ed.] had answered Ukraine’s requests for assistance via this mechanism with help with food, shelter, emergency supplies - “which shows an unprecedented solidarity from the EU and its member states for its neighbours”, Lenarčič stressed, adding that the country “lacks manpower, equipment, everything”.
Logistics are a challenge in the midst of war, but the Commission was able to secure a first humanitarian corridor in Kyiv (see EUROPE 12900/6) on 26 February and “more trucks are arriving”. There is a hub in Poland and another is being set up in Slovakia to facilitate the transfer of needed items to Ukraine, according to Lenarčič.
Moreover, some EU countries have already responded to the request for assistance from Moldova, “the poorest country in Europe, facing a massive influx of refugees from Ukraine”, the Commissioner noted, encouraging other Member States to respond as well.
The EU Civil Protection Mechanism will coordinate the assistance already requested by Poland and Slovakia, and can also help Member States repatriate their nationals “when conditions allow”.
For humanitarian aid, the Commission has been working with various partners for weeks on different scenarios. “Unfortunately, the worst-case scenario is unfolding before our eyes”, said Lenarčič.
In the middle of a fight, it is difficult to assess the needs, he conceded. “But UN experts project that 18 million people will be affected by humanitarian problems in Ukraine and neighbouring countries. The UN High Commissioner for Refugees expects 4 million refugees and UNOCHA (UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs) expects 7 million internally displaced persons”, he added.
As UNHCR’s flash appeal for the refugee response plan for Ukraine and the region was due to be launched on Tuesday, the Commissioner said he expected the amount to be “well over US$1 billion”.
He said that the initial allocation of €90 million in EU humanitarian aid, already announced for Ukraine and Moldova, represented a tripling of the package. More could be mobilised, if necessary.
The Commissioner said he continues to call for respect for international humanitarian law and access for humanitarian workers to bring aid to all those in need.
“All the aggression by the Russian Federation is a gross violation of international law, but in addition we see violations of international humanitarian law in targeting civilian infrastructure, attacking protected civilians and flouting humanitarian corridors”, he said.
According to him, the relevant humanitarian aspects in this crisis are “concern about the humanitarian situation, the need to ensure humanitarian access, the need to fund humanitarian assistance, support through the Civil Protection Mechanism and a strong condemnation of violations of international law”. (Original version in French by Aminata Niang)