Germany allocates €14.3 million to ensure drinking water supply along the demarcation line in Donbas
The federal government of Germany has decided to allocate to the United Nations International Children's Emergency Fund (UNICEF) an additional EUR 14.3 million to ensure the supply of drinking water to people living near the line of contact in the Donetsk and Luhansk oblasts, LB.ua reported, citing the press service of the Embassy of Germany in Ukraine.
“Since the beginning of the conflict, Germany has been a major donor to Ukraine in terms of both humanitarian aid and cooperation for development. The allocation of the additional EUR 14.3 million will ensure the supply of drinking water to 2.5 million people in Eastern Ukraine in 2018-2019. We believe this measure will help drastically improve the situation on both sides along the line of contact,” the Deputy Head of the German diplomatic mission to Ukraine, Wolfgang Bindseil, said.
According to the report, the UNICEF project will be financed by the Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development of Germany through the KfW Development Bank and it covers the preparation of drinking water, sanitation, the supply of drinking water, and helps address problems with hygiene in 15 populated areas in Donetsk and Luhansk oblasts.
“When there is no water, the lives of millions of people along the line of contact are imperiled. The damaged water infrastructure also causes dilapidation of heating systems. We are grateful to Germany for its continuous support of our work with needy children and families,” UNICEF’s Representative in Ukraine, Giovanna Barberis, said.
Last year, with the help of German authorities, UNICEF created 23 early childhood intervention services and rendered professional trainings onto 1,300 specialists teaching them how to provide special services to children with disabilities in Eastern Ukraine. Nearly 10,000 children participated in three large sports events that are regularly held to promote gender tolerance.
As it was earlier reported, Germany plans to allocate EUR 0.5 million to the World Health Organization for humanitarian projects in the Donbas.