Brussels: The European Commission has announced a new humanitarian aid package worth £148 million for Ukraine, as the war with Russia continues to create severe humanitarian challenges. Approximately 12.7 million people in Ukraine are in urgent need of assistance.
According to Cyprus News Agency, the new funding will support crucial humanitarian projects in both Ukraine and Moldova. Of the total, £140 million will be allocated to Ukraine for emergency assistance, including food, shelter, clean water, healthcare, and winter protection. The focus will be on aiding vulnerable populations in the heavily impacted regions of eastern and southern Ukraine. Meanwhile, £8 million will support humanitarian projects in Moldova, prioritizing assistance for Ukrainian refugees and Moldovan host communities.
Commissioner for Preparedness, Crisis Management and Equality, Hadja Lahbib, is currently visiting Ukraine to reinforce the EU’s commitment to providing critical assistance. During her visit, Commissioner Lahbib is expected to meet with key Ukrainian leaders, including President Volodymyr Zelensky, to discuss urgent humanitarian challenges and the strategic allocation of EU aid. She will also meet with beneficiaries of EU humanitarian aid and local partners.
Since the beginning of Russia’s aggression, the EU has coordinated its largest ever operation under the EU Civil Protection Mechanism, delivering over 150,000 tonnes of in-kind assistance to Ukraine. The EU has also deployed resources from its rescEU stockpiles, including power generators, medical equipment, temporary shelters, and water treatment stations.
In addition to humanitarian operations, the EU continues to address the needs of vulnerable communities in Ukraine since the conflict’s inception in 2014. Following Russia’s full-scale invasion in February 2022, the EU significantly scaled up its response to tackle the unprecedented humanitarian challenges caused by the war, allocating over £1.1 billion in humanitarian aid to date.