Crisis in Ukraine
Hundreds of thousands of people forced to flee their homes in eastern Ukraine are being supplied with aid from Germany. "We hope that our support will give these people hope," declared Federal Development Minister Gerd Müller. He handed over the first delivery of relief supplies to needy Ukrainians in Kharkiv.
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In Ukraine Federal Development Minister hands over the first relief supplies from Germany
Photo: Thomas Trutschel/photothek.net
A convoy of more than 100 trucks carried housing units, mobile kitchens, generators, hot water boilers, water and diesel tanks, camp beds and medical equipment from Germany to Ukraine. The supplies were destined for Kharkiv, Slavyansk, Mariupol, Zaporozhye and Dniprpetrovsk.
Chancellor pledged support
These supplies were pledged by Chancellor Angela Merkel when she visited Ukraine this August. She promised to support Ukraine in the crisis it is currently facing.
In view of the crisis in Ukraine, the German government has raised its support for the country this year to a total of about 70 million euros. Relief supplies for internally displaced persons have also been stepped up.
Federal Development Minister hands over first housing units
During his two-day visit, Federal Development Minister Gerd Müller was able to gain a first hand impression of the situation facing Ukrainians who have fled fighting in the east of the country. "For almost twenty years now, Germany has been supporting Ukraine in developing infrastructure in the country’s different regions. As a result, we have a well established network which we can now use to help the people in Ukraine during this crisis," he explained.
Along with representatives of the Federal Office of Civil Protection and Disaster Assistance, the municipal authorities and the Ukrainian Red Cross, Gerd Müller symbolically took delivery of the first relief supplies for displaced persons from the areas worst affected by the crisis. The Development Minister handed over the first housing units supplied by Germany to families who have fled their homes in Donetsk and Luhansk.
In Kharkiv alone shelter is to be provided for up to 450 people. Over the next few weeks the German government will provide about 1200 housing modules for the affected region.
"With our support we aim to give some hope to these people who have been forced by fighting to leave their homes and possessions. The top priority must be to achieve peace swiftly for Ukraine. The first signs can now be seen that tensions are lessening, but everybody hopes that this will become a lasting peace," said the Federal Development Minister.