Finland to provide assistance to Ukraine conflict victims

Finland has allocated EUR 500,000 in humanitarian aid to help the victims of the Ukraine conflict. The support will be channelled to the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent societies (IFRC) via the Finnish Red Cross.

The humanitarian situation in east Ukraine has deteriorated rapidly and five million people are in need of humanitarian aid.  "About two million people have already been forced to leave their homes in Ukraine under very difficult circumstances. The purpose of this decision is to help those people," states Minister for International Development Sirpa Paatero. Due to new unrest, the number of internally displaced persons is expected to grow further.

The victims of the conflict are supplied food assistance, shelter, clothing, household goods and toiletries. The Finnish Red Cross supports the IFRC's operation through material supplies and by means of dispatching a communications team to the area.

The support will be granted from Finland's development cooperation appropriations earmarked for humanitarian aid purposes.

Additional information: Anna Gebremedhin, Director, Unit for Humanitarian Assistance and Humanitarian Assistance Policy, tel. +358 295 351 038