The European Union together with international humanitarian organizations People in Need, Action Contre La Faim, Médecins du Monde and ACTED in partnership with IMPACT Initiatives will provide additional humanitarian assistance to over 163,000 people on both sides of the contact line in Ukraine. The European Union is providing €4.1 million in support of this initiative.
The armed conflict in eastern Ukraine is now in its fourth year. The conflict has led to staggering humanitarian needs, claimed over 10,000 lives (nearly 3,000 civilians) and damaged critical civilian infrastructure. Thousands of civilians living close to the contact line are still suffering under shelling. Many citizens face significant challenges as a result of the suspension of social and financial services in the divided parts of Donetsk and Luhansk regions. Restrictions on movement of people and goods across the contact line make life extremely difficult for people living in the eastern regions.
An estimated four million people are in need of humanitarian support, and while humanitarian groups are doing their best to meet needs, there is a serious lack of funding and international attention to the ongoing humanitarian crisis. Protracted displacement is a challenge and lack of livelihood opportunities forces some Internally Displaced People (IDPs) to return to insecure areas. The main challenges for aid organizations are providing assistance to 1,583,827 registered IDPs in Ukraine (by April 25th, 2017) and accessing to those in need living on the other side of the contact line.
The situation in the Donbass (Eastern) region exposes and aggravates systemic and structural flaws that, in turn, negatively impact the humanitarian situation. This drawn-out crisis has weakened people’s ability to cope. Therefore, the role of the international humanitarian actors is critical.
Samuel Marie-Fanon, Head of the EU Civil Protection & Humanitarian Aid Operations (ECHO) in Kyiv said: “Our partners continue to provide vital assistance to the people of Ukraine affected on both sides of the line of contact. The EU remains committed to providing humanitarian assistance to all those in need in Eastern Ukraine.”
This project will provide multi-sectoral assistance, including restoring livelihoods, access to drinking water, health and psychosocial services, and rehabilitation of shelters.
Original source: ACTED
Published on 27 October 2017
