In response to the Ukrainian authorities’ request for assistance following the destruction of the Nova Kakhovka dam, the European Union is stepping up its emergency aid through the Union Civil Protection Mechanism (UCPM) and increasing its humanitarian funding for NGOs.
The EU is now mobilising its RescEU strategic reserve of equipment by deploying three mobile water treatment plants to help local authorities produce drinking water for those affected, according to an announcement from the European Commission on Wednesday 14 June. Each water treatment plant can produce 120,000 litres of drinking water per day.
This aid in kind is in addition to the equipment provided to date by 16 European countries through the UCPM – Austria, Belgium, Bulgaria, the Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Latvia, Lithuania, the Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Spain and Sweden – including in particular, tankers, water pumps, boats, rescue equipment and generators (see EUROPE 13200/2, 13196/25).
The EU has also mobilised a further €500,000 in humanitarian funding to support the operations of its humanitarian partners in Ukraine, who are providing vital aid to affected populations, including drinking water, ready-to-eat food, cash and equipment for shelters. This sum is in addition to the €200 million in humanitarian aid that has already been allocated to Ukraine in 2023. (Original version in French by Aminata Niang)