The Foreign Disaster Response Fund (AKF) of the Austrian Ministry of Foreign Affairs will allocate EUR41.96 million in humanitarian aid to Ukraine as part of the “Neighbors in Need” fundraising campaign in connection with the humanitarian catastrophe in the country as a result of Russia’s brutal war of aggression .
According to the Austrian Foreign Ministry, the decision was made by the government on June 4, this will be the largest payment from the AKF in history.
According to the release, due to the serious consequences of the war in Ukraine, which are felt far beyond the region, another EUR4 million will go to the World Food Program (WFP) for important work in Lebanon, Syria, Yemen and Libya.
“By a decision taken today by the Council of Ministers, the federal government is fulfilling its March pledge by doubling all donations for Ukraine received by Easter Monday as part of the ORF Neighbors in Need campaign,” Chancellor Carl Nehammer said in a statement.
He emphasized that Austria considers it its humanitarian duty to help alleviate the suffering of people in Ukraine, and recalled that since the beginning of the war, the country has already provided a number of emergency services, including the provision of EUR 17.5 million from the Foreign Assistance Fund and the supply of civilian ambulances, helmets, protective vests and fuel.
“It is very clear: we are on the side of the Ukrainian people. With EUR42 million, we want to provide quick and unbureaucratic assistance to Neighbors in Need. Together we can better support everyone who especially needs our help and solidarity,” said Vice Chancellor Werner Kogler thanking all donors.
According to the release, at least EUR15 million of the funds allocated by the government should be used to finance projects aimed at alleviating humanitarian hardships, especially for women and children, and at least EUR5 million should be allocated to organizations to work in Moldova, which has been particularly affected by the flow of refugees from Ukraine.
This increases the Austrian aid provided to Ukraine and other particularly affected countries since the start of the war of aggression with Russia, to a total of more than EUR80 million.
