Media Note
Office of the Spokesperson
Washington, DC
May
27, 2015
Principal Deputy Assistant Secretary of State for Population, Refugees, and
Migration Simon Henshaw announced May 23 in Kyiv that the United States is
providing $18 million in additional U.S. humanitarian assistance to help those
affected by Russian aggression in eastern Ukraine and Crimea. With this new
funding, total U.S. humanitarian assistance since the start of the crisis will
reach more than $61 million.
The United States remains concerned by the growing humanitarian crisis in
eastern Ukraine, particularly in areas occupied by combined Russian-separatist
forces, and the limits on assistance agencies’ response due to the underfunding
of humanitarian appeals. More than five million people in Ukraine are in need
of aid, according to the UN, including 1.2 million internally displaced
persons. Single-headed households, the disabled, and the elderly are
particularly vulnerable. Civilians’ freedom of movement and the inability of
international humanitarian organizations to access individuals in need of assistance
are also greatly concerning.
We call on all those involved in the conflict in eastern Ukraine to
facilitate the quick and safe movement of civilian populations as they seek to
cross the ceasefire line. We call on Ukraine, Russia, and the separatists it
backs, to fully implement the February Minsk implementation plan, particularly
to allow international humanitarian organizations unhindered access to persons
affected by conflict, and thereby ensure safe access, delivery, storage, and
distribution of humanitarian assistance. We urge progress in the Trilateral
Contact Group working groups, which will facilitate implementation of the Minsk
agreements and a peaceful resolution to the conflict in Ukraine.
The $18 million from the Department of State’s Bureau of Population,
Refugees, and Migration will support the activities of the International
Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC), the International Organization for Migration
(IOM), and the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA). This funding will
support efforts to meet the most critical protection and assistance needs of
persons affected by the conflict in eastern Ukraine, including the provision of
food, hygiene items, medical supplies, and essential household items such as
blankets, plastic sheeting, and construction materials to repair homes. This
funding will also support the prevention of and response to gender-based
violence and improved access to health care services.
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