EU adopts a new measure to support access to education in Ukraine and the repatriation of evacuated patients

On 24 November, the European Union (EU) adopted a new crisis response measure of €10 million to support war-affected population of Ukraine through the conflict-sensitive and more resilient models of access to education and health.

The action will focus on access to education in areas that are particularly impacted by the Russian war of aggression, including those recently liberated from Russian military control and those hosting a large number of internally displaced persons. Assistance will be provided in a flexible manner through Ukrainian municipalities (hromadas) to tailor specific access-to-education models to local needs. This will include support to both offline and online schooling solutions, including the rehabilitation or construction of shelters, classrooms and other facilities e.g. for sports or psychological support and counselling; or modular school-centres. The municipalities and school administrations will be supported in crisis management as well as with psychological support to their employees and students.

The action will also focus on the needs of the Ukrainian health system related to a growing number of Ukrainian patients who received medical support in the EU and the countries of the European Economic Area (EEA). Support will include safe repatriation of patients willing to return to Ukraine, as well as strengthening the trauma surgery and treatment capacity of the Ukrainian health system. This will help to limit the number of patients requiring evacuation and support repatriated patients that need rehabilitation.