Finland grants EUR 16 million in humanitarian assistance to Ukraine

The Ministry for Foreign Affairs has made decisions on humanitarian assistance, prioritising Ukraine, major refugee crises in Africa and the humanitarian situation in the Middle East. Funding is also granted for supporting school meals and promoting the inclusion of people with disabilities. The amount of humanitarian assistance now granted totals EUR 36.5 million, of which EUR 16 million is allocated to Ukraine.

The humanitarian situation in Ukraine remains dire over three years on from the Russian invasion. The situation has deteriorated especially in the front line. Finland is providing a total of EUR 16 million in humanitarian assistance to Ukraine from the budget item ‘Support for Ukraine’. The aid will be channelled through UN humanitarian agencies and the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC).

“Finland has supported Ukraine’s humanitarian needs since the first day of Russia’s war of aggression and will continue to do so also in the future. The need for humanitarian aid in Ukraine is enormous, and our assistance is important,” says Minister for Foreign Trade and Development Ville Tavio.

Finland is also granting assistance to address major refugee crises in Africa and the humanitarian situation in the Middle East. Finland provides EUR 2 million in support for the World Food Programme’s (WFP) operation in Sudan, EUR 2.5 million for the WFP’s operation in Gaza and EUR 2 million for the UN Refugee Agency UNHCR’s regional operation in Syria, among other operations. Support is also granted to Ethiopia, to the Horn of Africa and to the Great Lakes and the Sahel regions. In Asia, Finland supports Afghanistan and Myanmar through the International Red Cross Movement.

Finland also provides EUR 2 million in funding for the WFP's and UNHCR’s work on disability inclusion. The aid is targeted at persons with disabilities, who are often in the most vulnerable position. In addition, EUR 2 million is granted for developing the WFP’s school meals activities and supporting school meals, especially in Africa.

In addition to these decisions, Finland grants core funding to multilateral humanitarian organisations. Moreover, preparations are under way for humanitarian assistance that will be channelled through Finnish civil society organisations. The rest of the budgeted humanitarian funding will be granted later in the year.