Finland has announced that it will allocate €72 million in humanitarian aid, of which €20 million will go to Ukraine, according to the Finnish government’s website.
“A total of €20 million in humanitarian aid will be allocated to Ukraine from the budget item ‘Support for Ukraine’. The aid will be provided through UN humanitarian organizations and the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC),” the statement said.
The organizations will, in particular, respond to people’s winter needs and heating requirements by distributing, among other things, heaters, fuel, clothing, and cash assistance, as well as helping to repair houses, water, electricity, and heating systems damaged during the attacks.
Finland will allocate EUR6 million to the UN Refugee Agency (UNHCR), EUR6 million to the World Food Programme (WFP), EUR 5 million to the ICRC, and EUR 3 million to the Ukraine Assistance Basket Fund of the UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA), from which funds will be distributed at the local level according to needs.
“Russian attacks are making it much more difficult for people living in the midst of war to survive in winter conditions in Ukraine. Supporting access to energy and heat is particularly important now, as the need for humanitarian support is acute. Our increased assistance is helping people with basic needs. Finland supports Ukraine,” said Minister for Foreign Trade and Development Ville Tavio.
In its humanitarian aid decisions for the beginning of the year, Finland, in addition to Ukraine, emphasizes the main areas of conflict and refugee crises in Africa, as well as the humanitarian situation in the Middle East.
