UN critically lacks funds for Donbas humanitarian aid
According to the UN Resident Coordinator and Humanitarian Coordinator in Ukraine, Neil Walker, the UN humanitarian agencies have only 3 percent of the required amount of funds for providing humanitarian aid to residents of eastern Ukraine in 2018. The statement was published on Saturday, April 20, on the website of the United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA).
OCHA estimated that $187 million is required to help residents of the Ukrainian eastern regions.
“Today, I urge the member states to show solidarity with the people that are suffering from the conflict in Ukraine, and to respond urgently to the shortage of 97% of the funds,” Walker stated. “I continue to urge both sides of the conflict to take measures to observe international humanitarian law, and to protect civilians and civil infrastructure.”
According to OCHA estimates, in 2018, 4.4 million Ukrainian people suffer from the armed conflict in the east of the country. About 3.4 million Ukrainians are in dire need of humanitarian assistance and protection.
In early April, the Red Cross sent 56 tons of humanitarian aid to the separatist-controlled territories of Donetsk and Luhansk.