EU boosts UNHCR winter aid to help vulnerable war-impacted Ukrainians
As Ukraine prepares for a fourth winter of full-scale war, the European Union has announced an additional €12 million in support to UNHCR, the UN Refugee Agency.
UNHCR aims to provide cash assistance to 359,000 people in close proximity to the frontline or border or who are very vulnerable and affected by the war in other areas, if the necessary funding is received. This will allow them to purchase, for example, firewood or solid fuel to heat their homes or buy winter clothing.
“These activities provide a crucial lifeline to Ukraine’s most vulnerable and war-affected people, as they face yet another challenging winter,” said Bernadette Castel-Hollingsworth, UNHCR Representative in Ukraine. “Freezing temperatures exacerbate an already perilous situation for vulnerable people, particularly those facing unspeakable trauma and uncertainty in frontline communities.”
“With this additional funding, the EU reaffirms its steadfast support to the people of Ukraine,” said Marianna Franco, head of the EU Humanitarian Aid office in Ukraine. “As winter approaches, many war-affected families are struggling to survive in damaged homes and without reliable access to energy.”
UNHCR is also helping families stay warm by providing insulation kits, installing heaters, and carrying out winter repairs on war-damaged homes or in collective sites that are hosting some of the most vulnerable displaced people in facilities that were not meant for long-term accommodation. In collective sites, UNHCR will also support upgrading of heating systems and insulation of heating pipes to minimise the costs of utilities. These efforts will benefit more than 30,000 people.
The new contribution from the EU adds to the funding agreement of €36.8 million, provided to UNHCR work in Ukraine earlier this year. Moreover, the EU has provided a total of €4 million in financial support to UNHCR’s response to support refugees from Ukraine in Moldova, as outlined in the Ukraine Refugee Response Plan.
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