On the eve of the Russian offensive in the Donbass, the European Commission announced on Sunday 17 April the mobilisation of an additional 50 million euros to fund humanitarian aid to vulnerable populations affected by the war.
45 million euros is earmarked for Ukraine, where the EU’s humanitarian partners are assisting victims despite access and security constraints, and 5 million euros will go to neighbouring Moldova.
This funding will cover the most pressing needs of the population - provision of emergency medical services, access to clean water and sanitation, shelter and protection, cash assistance, and support against gender-based violence against women and girls.
The ongoing hostilities are endangering the lives of civilians and causing severe damage to housing, water and electricity supplies, heating, and public infrastructure.
“With millions of people displaced or trapped in active war zones, the needs in Ukraine are already significant. We must now prepare for a further increase in Russia’s ruthless attacks on Ukraine, especially in the east of the country”, Commissioner for Crisis Management Janez Lenarčič said on Sunday.
The aid comes from the one billion euros pledged by Ursula von der Leyen during the ‘Stand up for Ukraine’ fundraising campaign, says the Commission (600 million euros in EU external aid and 400 million euros for EU Member States hosting refugees).
90 million euros in aid (85 for Ukraine and 5 for Moldova were announced at the end of February - see EUROPE 12900/6). On 11 March, the Commission had released 3 million euros for refugees in Moldova (see EUROPE 12909/3).
In addition, more than 19,000 tonnes of emergency aid in kind - medicines, food, electricity generators, and shelter equipment - were delivered to Ukraine from the EU Civil Protection Mechanism’s logistics platforms in Poland, Slovakia and Romania. (Original version in French by Aminata Niang)