TALLINN – Estonia will allocate 500,000 euros for development and humanitarian aid to Ukraine, including to support humanitarian settlements in the front-line zone in eastern Ukraine, the Estonian Foreign Ministry said on April 22.
Thus, 177,994 euros is allocated for the dissemination of the digital competence program in schools in the crisis zone of Ukraine and the provision of psychological support to victims of the crisis in Luhansk region.
The Estonian Refugee Council Eesti Pagulasabi is allocating 175,258 euros to support humanitarian settlements in the frontline zone in eastern Ukraine. The funds will be allocated to help children affected by the armed conflict in eastern Ukraine: to purchase school supplies, to prepare children for school, as well as to households for vulnerable groups living near the contact line, to prepare for winter and agricultural subsidies in spring. Elderly people living in frontline settlements will be supported with the necessary hygiene items.
The third project worth 150,000 euros is intended for the Ukrainian Cultural Center for the purchase of modern equipment for 16 schools and children’s institutions in Donetsk and Luhansk regions.
“Ukraine has been a priority country in Estonia’s development cooperation since 2006. We will continue to support Ukraine to help people who have suffered the most in the conflict, which is already in its seventh year. In an increasingly complicated situation it is crucial to help children and vulnerable people living in conflict areas, which is why these issues are at the focus of the projects that received support,” Foreign Minister Eva-Maria Liimets said.
This year, Estonia plans to support Ukraine with a total of 2.4 million euros, with 1.4 million euros earmarked for bilateral development cooperation and 1 million euros for bilateral humanitarian assistance. The budget of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs includes 11.6 million euros for development cooperation and humanitarian aid activities of Estonia and Ukraine between 2020 and 2023.
