New Danish humanitarian support package to ensure urgent and life-saving emergency relief for the most vulnerable Ukrainians

While Minister for Development Cooperation and Global Climate Policy, Dan Jørgensen, and his European counterparts meet in Brussels today to discuss, among other things, the war in Ukraine, the Danish government is announcing a new humanitarian support package for Ukraine.

"The humanitarian situation in Ukraine is extremely serious. Millions of Ukrainians have been displaced, thousands of homes have been destroyed, hospitals have been bombed, and basic necessities such as water, heating, and electricity are scarce resources for many Ukrainians. In areas close to the front line the situation has especially reached a catastrophic level. Many women and children are particularly vulnerable. With this new support package, we aim to ensure urgent and life-saving humanitarian aid and protection for the most vulnerable groups," says Dan Jørgensen.

The package provides basic emergency assistance such as food, medicine, water, and shelter to Ukrainians in the hardest hit areas.

The support focuses especially on protection of the most vulnerable Ukrainians. This includes the millions of children who suffer from the consequences of the war and are in need of a safe environment, social activities, and support to continue their education even as the war rages.

The support package also contributes to efforts to prevent, mitigate and respond to the particular risks faced by women and girls - including the risk of sexual and gender-based violence - and contributes towards provision of e.g. psychosocial support and maternal health care.

The support package will include:

• Humanitarian efforts through Danish civil society partners, who have been present in Ukraine since the beginning of the war.
• The Ukraine Humanitarian Fund, which supports broad humanitarian efforts and ensures the involvement of local Ukrainian partners (OCHA).
• Humanitarian efforts through UNHCR in support of internally displaced people in Ukraine and refugees in the neighboring country of Moldova.
• Humanitarian efforts through UNICEF focused on children and vulnerable families, including protection, health, and education.
• UNFPA's work to prevent, mitigate and respond to sexual and gender-based violence and ensure access to essential sexual and reproductive health services.

Background

Distribution of the humanitarian support package:

• 100 million DKK through strategic Danish civil society partners present in Ukraine
• 42 million DKK through the Ukraine humanitarian fund (OCHA)
• 42 million DKK through the UNHCR in Ukraine and Moldova
• 41 million DKK through UNICEF in Ukraine
• 25 million DKK through UNFPA in Ukraine

In addition, the support package focuses on strengthening Ukrainians' ability to sustain themselves through the coming winter. Ukrainian winters are harsh and cold with temperatures dropping below minus 20 degrees. Over the past few months, Russia has intensified its airstrikes on Ukraine, including on the Ukrainian energy infrastructure that provides both electricity and heating to the population. Initiatives that prepare Ukrainians to get through the cold months are already needed at this point.

Denmark also supports humanitarian mine action in Ukraine. Up to 156,000 km2 - more than three times Denmark's area - is feared to be contaminated with mines and other explosive remnants of war. The extensive presence of mines and explosive remnants of war in civilian areas poses a serious threat to civilians' safety and their return to previously war-affected areas. Mine contamination also poses a serious challenge to humanitarian access and reconstruction efforts in the country.

The contribution is financed through the Ukraine Fund. For press inquiries, contact the press duty officer at [email protected] or +45 61 97 92 47.

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