A new humanitarian aid package worth €148 million has been approved for Ukraine by the EU, the European Commission announced today.

“As Russia’s aggressive war continues to devastate Ukraine, some 12.7 million people need urgent assistance,” the Commission stresses. The €148 million in new funding will continue to support vital humanitarian assistance in both Ukraine and Moldova and will bring the total humanitarian aid available from the European Commission to over €1.1 billion.

Of the new package, €140 million is available for humanitarian projects in Ukraine. The funding will be directed for emergency assistance, including food, shelter, clean water, health care and hand protection. Key priorities are to support vulnerable populations in the war-affected regions of eastern and southern Ukraine. In addition, €8 million is available for humanitarian projects in Moldova. Support will focus on assisting Ukrainian refugees and host communities in Moldova, prioritising cash assistance, access to critical services such as healthcare and education and psychosocial support.

Today, Commissioner for Preparedness, Crisis Management and Equality Hajia Lakhbib visited Ukraine to reinforce the EU’s ongoing efforts to provide vital assistance. During the visit, Commissioner Lahbib is expected to meet with key Ukrainian leaders, including President Zelensky and senior officials, to discuss urgent humanitarian challenges and the strategic allocation of EU assistance.

Since the beginning of the Russian aggression, the EU has coordinated the largest ever operation under the EU Civil Protection Mechanism, delivering more than 150,000 tonnes of in-kind assistance to Ukraine. The EU has also deployed assistance from its rescEU stocks, including electricity generators, medical equipment, temporary shelters and water treatment plants in Ukraine.