Estonia is to support with 200,000 euros relieving the situation of Ukraine's internal refugees through the Office of the UN High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) and UNICEF.
Estonia to give EUR 200,000 to aid internal refugees in Ukraine
1st April 2015, 15:28
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«Both of these international aid organizations have long-time experience operating in crisis situations and they are very familiar with the needs of internal refugees,» Foreign Minister Keit Pentus-Rosimannus said when signing the allocation decision.
Estonia is to allocate 150,000 euros to UNICEF and 50,000 euros to UNHCR, spokespeople for the Ministry of Foreign Affairs said.
«Unfortunately the conflict is continuing and the number of internal refugees is increasing not declining, so it is important to support the aid organizations that are operating in Ukraine,» the minister said.
According to the UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) as on April 1 more than one million people have been forced to leave their homes in Ukraine and relocate. Most of the internal refugees are women, children and old people.
UNICEF heads the aid activities in the fields of education, water and sanitation in Ukraine, while UNHCR plays a leading role in guaranteeing access to shelter and necessities. The activities of UNHCR also include the need for additional protection and counseling as a result of violence, and the organization also deals with communities that accept refugees.
Since last year the Estonian Ministry of Foreign Affairs has allocated 875,000 euros to help people suffering as a result of the conflict in Ukraine and to relieve the situation of internal refugees.