The Estonian Foreign Ministry, in cooperation with businesses from the Estonian food industry and the UN Refugee Agency is sending food products as humanitarian aid to the internally displaced persons in Ukraine.
The Estonian food aid sent to the internally displaced persons in Eastern Ukraine will be routed through the Regional Representation of the UN High Commissioner for Refugees to IDPs’ collective centres, hospitals, children's institutions and soup kitchens.
Foreign Minister Paet stated that the humanitarian situation in Eastern Ukraine is difficult and in light of the approaching winter, the situation will get even more complicated. “The number of internally displaced persons is increasing day by day. Nearly 90% of the population of Eastern Ukraine has lost their source of livelihood due to the conflict and the number of internally displaced persons had now grown to more than 417 000,” the Foreign Minister said. Those struggling are in need of food, as well as medical care and the bare necessities of life.
According to Paet, on this occasion Estonia chose to help displaced persons in Eastern Ukraine by sending Estonian food products. In cooperation with E-Piim (milk) Production AS, the Maag Canning Company and Salvest AS, Estonia is sending 20 tonnes of whole milk powder, 4,7 tonnes of canned meat and 4,5 tonnes of canned soup to Ukraine’s internally displaced persons. The first truck carrying the food aid is ready to be dispatched to Ukraine.
Regional Representation of the UN High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) has increased its presence in Ukraine, deploying missions to Eastern Ukraine. The UNHCR supplies collective centres, hospitals, children’s institutions and displaced persons in the crisis region with NFIs (blankets, towels, beds, linens, warm clothes), hygiene sets and food.
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs is funding sending food aid with 80,000 euros from funds allocated for humanitarian aid. This year, the Foreign Ministry has supported Ukraine with close to one million euros.
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