The European Union is ready to assist Ukraine in providing aid to residents in eastern Ukrainian territories liberated during the anti-terrorist operation (ATO) and internally displaced persons (IDP), Director of the European Commission's Humanitarian and Civil Protection Operations Jean-Louis de Brouwer said at a meeting with Ukrainian Deputy Prime Minister Volodymyr Hroisman on Aug. 18.
Under consideration is the allocation of additional financial aid, he
said. “My colleagues are working to ensure that the funds that have
already been earmarked by the EU could quickly come to Ukraine. But
given further assessments, it may be decided in early September on the
allocation of additional financial aid,” the press service of the
Ukrainian Ministry of Regional Development, Construction and Utilities
quoted the European Commissioner as saying.
“We plan to funnel these funds into the improvement of living
conditions of both internally replaced persons, and people who reside in
the liberated territories. Under consideration is the possibility of
providing assistance in the form of tents, heating appliances, building
materials and other essentials,” he said.
Hroisman in turn informed the EU official about measures taken by the
government in that direction, namely, the creation of two state
agencies, one of which will handle IDPs’ problems, and the other will
tackle issues to rebuild Donbas.
The sides also discussed the possibility of engaging European experts
with experience in dealing with similar problems, the press service
said. Joint work is planned to raise necessary funds to fulfill these
plans, as the United Nations preliminarily assesses that about $33
million are needed by the end of the year to satisfy displaced persons’
urgent needs alone.
EU member countries and other donor organizations are expected to
jointly assist the settlement of IDPs’ problems and rebuild the
liberated towns and cities in the east of Ukraine.
