Estonia has allocated additional €550,000 in humanitarian aid to Ukraine

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs has provided additional funds to support Ukrainian people living in the front-line areas and ensure an efficient cooperation between International organisations in mapping the needs and delivering humanitarian aid in Ukraine.

€200,000 for international cooperation

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs is allocating 200,000 euros in emergency aid to Ukraine to support people who have been forced to leave their homes, and to ensure an efficient cooperation between humanitarian aid organisations in Ukraine

“More than ever before, it is crucial that Ukraine and the people of Ukraine know that they are not alone. Humanitarian assistance is a very important element to reduce human suffering and protect and help residents in the crisis-hit areas of Ukraine, who are the most vulnerable in the war,” Foreign Minister Eva-Maria Liimets said.

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs is allocating 100,000 euros to the UNHCR that has a leading role in protecting refugees and helping internally displaced people and providing shelter and basic necessities. The remaining 100,000 euros goes to the Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) that plays a central role in responding to humanitarian crises. OCHA is tasked with ensuring information exchange and cooperation between humanitarian aid organisations when providing humanitarian assistance.

€351,700 for the residents near the front-line

In addition to ongoing humanitarian aid projects, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs is allocating 351,700 euros to Ukraine to support the people living in the war zone in eastern Ukraine and help the country to  prepare for potential migration.

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs is allocating €190 000 for additional assistance to vulnerable households and elderly people near the line of contact. The support is aimed at helping them cope during the winter, for example to obtain firewood, basic necessities, warm blankets or clothes. The deteriorating economic environment may call for individual assistance: food, sanitary items, and medical and psychosocial assistance to residents of frontline villages.

The actions worth 60,000 euros in total are carried out by the Estonian NGOs Mondo and Estonian Refugee Council in cooperation with the local governments, social service workers and partners in Ukraine who have the best insight into the needs of local residents and know which families are in the most urgent need of help. Mondo and the Estonian Refugee Council have long-standing experience in providing humanitarian aid in eastern Ukraine and they have been the partners of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs since the 2014 humanitarian crisis in Ukraine, organising the charity campaign For Ukraine.

The Estonian Red Cross is providing 30,000 euros via the Ukrainian Red Cross societies, offering material and psychosocial assistance to the emotionally exhausted residents of the conflict zone. The International Committee of the Red Cross is giving 100,000 euros through the local Red Cross societies to provide medical assistance near the line of contact where the impact of fighting most palpably felt.

Estonia is also providing humanitarian assistance to Ukraine to help them prepare for potential migration, answering Ukraine’s call with other European Union states. In February, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the Estonian Rescue Board are sending equipment worth 161,700 euros to the Ukrainian Border Guard. The shipment contains six tents for ten people each with sleeping bags, folding beds, tent heaters, diesel generators and other equipment to offer temporary shelter. The aim of the donation is to increase Ukraine’s readiness in case of a potential emergency.

On topic: 

• Ministry of Foreign Affairs allocates €200,000 in emergency aid for Ukrainian residents affected by war
• Estonia allocates €351,700 to residents of frontline areas in eastern Ukraine