UN increases funding to support frontline areas: $3.6 million for winter assistance

The UN refugee agency (UNHCR) has announced an additional $3.6 million to fund a cash assistance program for vulnerable populations, particularly in areas close to the fighting. The funds will be used to prepare for the winter period, providing vital support to households struggling due to fighting.

This is the second increase in funding for the program from an international donor. The program was initially budgeted at $30 million, but given the high demand for assistance from vulnerable families, this budget was increased to $37 million, which allowed it to provide assistance to 71,000 households. Now, with the additional funding, the program’s total budget will reach $40.6 million.

Thanks to this increase in funds, the program will be able to reach an additional 7,000 households living in frontline areas. This will allow for assistance to be provided to even more people facing extraordinary hardships due to the war and the approaching cold season.

The cash assistance program provides a one-time payment of UAH 21,000 to purchase solid fuel for households in difficult circumstances. This assistance will be provided to residents of Chernihiv, Sumy, Kharkiv, Luhansk, Donetsk, Zaporizhia, Dnipropetrovsk, Kherson and Mykolaiv regions, who are in particular need of support during this winter period.

Deputy Head of the Office of the President of Ukraine Iryna Vereshchuk noted that thanks to additional funding from UNHCR, even more households in difficult circumstances will be reached. This will provide people with the necessary resources to survive the winter, when access to heat and energy resources is critically important.

The program is aimed at supporting the most vulnerable categories of the population, including large families, pensioners, people with disabilities and others who are in close proximity to the conflict zone. The situation is particularly difficult in frontline areas, and many people do not have access to basic services such as electric heating, water or medical care.

Increasing funding for this program is an important step to ensure stability and security in frontline areas, as well as to maintain social stability in the country in times of war.

Additional funding for the program from UNHCR is another example of international support for Ukraine in times of war. The UN’s decision to actively assist Ukraine is part of a broader strategy to provide humanitarian assistance in times of conflict, where many international organizations contribute to supporting the civilian population caught in the contact line.

This support is important not only to help the victims, but also to stabilize social processes in the country. UNHCR, together with other international partners, continues to work to provide assistance to Ukrainians affected by the armed conflict.

An important aspect of this initiative is the cooperation between international organizations and the Ukrainian government. Thanks to such cooperation, it was possible to promptly resolve the issue of providing assistance to affected families and prepare additional resources for the winter period. Such cooperation is essential for overcoming the consequences of the war and helps to make life easier for those who need support the most.

Thanks to the efforts of all parties involved, even in the most difficult times, it is possible to provide the necessary assistance and support to Ukrainians affected by the war.