EU steps up humanitarian aid to Ukraine

As the humanitarian situation in Ukraine worsens and neighbouring countries receive Ukrainians fleeing their country, the European Commission is working on all fronts to provide emergency assistance.

The Commission has announced an additional €90 million for emergency aid programmes to help civilians affected by the war in Ukraine, as part of an urgent aid appeal by the United Nations. The funding will help people inside Ukraine and in Moldova. This new EU humanitarian aid will provide food, water, health, shelter and help cover their basic needs.

The Commission is also coordinating the delivery of material assistance via the EU Civil Protection Mechanism to Ukraine, with offers from currently 20 Member States: Austria, Belgium, Croatia, Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Italy, Ireland, Latvia, Lithuania, Malta, Poland, Romania, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden and the Netherlands – which includes 8 million essential medical care items and civil protection support. A first truck load from Slovenia arrived yesterday to Ukraine’s capital Kyiv.

Moldova has activated the Mechanism to support Ukrainians arriving to their country. Already Austria, France and the Netherlands offered emergency support such as shelter items and medical assistance to Moldova.

European Commissioner for Crisis Management Janez Lenarčič said: “Civilians are paying the highest price of the illegal Russian military aggression on Ukraine. The war risks displacing millions of Ukrainians, leading to a sharp rise in humanitarian needs. Inside Ukraine, but also in neighbouring countries where Ukrainians seek safety.”

Meanwhile, European Commissioner for Home Affairs, Ylva Johansson, is in Romania today and will be in Slovakia tomorrow to assess the situation on the ground and the need for assistance and coordination by the Commission when it comes to providing protection to those fleeing the war in Ukraine. This morning, Commissioner Johansson visited the mobile refugee camp at the Siret border crossing point between Ukraine and Romania. 

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Press release

Commissioner Johansson in Romania and Slovakia