New €148 million EU humanitarian aid package for Ukraine and hosting communities in Moldova

During her visit to Ukraine, European Commissioner for Preparedness, Crisis Management and Equality Hadja Lahbib yesterday announced €148 million in new funding to support vital humanitarian aid in both Ukraine and Moldova.

Of the new package:

• €140 million is allocated for humanitarian projects in Ukraine. The funding will be directed towards emergency assistance, including food, shelter, clean water, healthcare, and winter protection. Key priorities are supporting vulnerable populations in the heavily war impacted regions of eastern and southern Ukraine.
• €8 million is allocated for humanitarian projects in Moldova. Support will focus on aiding Ukrainian refugees and Moldovan host communities, prioritising cash assistance, access to critical services like healthcare and education, and psychosocial support.

During the visit, Commissioner Lahbib was due to meet with key Ukrainian leaders, including President Volodymyr Zelensky and senior officials, to discuss urgent humanitarian challenges and the strategic allocation of EU aid. She was also scheduled to meet with beneficiaries of EU humanitarian aid and local partners.

“As Russia continues its cruelty in the dead of winter, the EU is intensifying its support to keep the lights on and homes warm,” Hadja Lahbib said. “We will continue to do everything in our power to help those affected by this crisis with all our partners and the Ukrainian authorities. This war is a threat to all of us. We must stand together at this critical moment for Europe.”

Prior to arriving in Kyiv, Commissioner Lahbib had visited the EU Medevac hub in Rzeszów, which assists the Civil Protection Mechanism medical evacuations of critically ill patients from Ukraine and neighbouring countries. Some 4,000 patients have been transferred to European hospitals for treatment since the system was set up in March 2022.

Since the beginning of the Russian aggression, the EU has been coordinating its largest ever operation under the EU Civil Protection Mechanism, delivering more than 150,000 tonnes of in-kind assistance into Ukraine. The EU has also deployed assistance from its rescEU stockpiles, including power generators, medical equipment, temporary shelters, and water treatment stations to Ukraine. The latest funding brings the total of humanitarian aid allocated by the European Commission to over €1.1 billion.

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Press release