Press release
Taoiseach and Tánaiste announce €36 million package of support to Ukraine and its immediate neighbours
From Department of Foreign Affairs
Published on
Last updated on
From Department of Foreign Affairs
Published on
Last updated on
The Taoiseach and Tánaiste have announced a significant new package of support for Ukraine and its neighbours, building on the extensive political, humanitarian, military and economic support provided since February 2022.
This package of €36m from Ireland will provide essential humanitarian assistance, support rehabilitation and eventual reconstruction, and contribute to Ukraine's longer term goals, including peace, stability and political aspirations.
Taoiseach Simon Harris T.D. said:
“Two and a half years on from Russia’s full-scale invasion, Ukraine continues to face immense challenges. We have seen the remarkable resilience shown by the people of Ukraine in the face of these challenges. That same determination and resolve will be needed to rebuild their country, with support from international partners, including Ireland. We have been unequivocal and steadfast in our support for the people of Ukraine and this additional funding continues to demonstrate that commitment.
“At the Summit on Peace in Ukraine, I committed Ireland’s support for the re-integration of children forcibly deported to Russia and now returned. This package includes €2m to support this goal in partnership with UNICEF.”
Tánaiste, Minister for Foreign Affairs and Minister for Defence, Micheál Martin T.D. said:
“This package of €36 million will provide much-needed humanitarian support and development assistance to people suffering the impact of this unjust war. Recognising the particularly horrific impact of the war on women and children, Ireland’s assistance in 2024 prioritises prevention and response to sexual and gender-based violence, support for maternity services and rebuilding of homes for people forced to flee conflict and now living in collective centres.
“This latest funding announcement will bring Ireland’s total funding to Ukraine since February 2022 to over €380 million, including approximately €130 million in stabilisation and humanitarian supports. Our support for Ukraine is unwavering. Ireland will continue to stand with the people of Ukraine for as long as necessary.”
Partners to be supported include the Ukraine Humanitarian Fund (UN OCHA) which has reach across all regions of Ukraine, including significant funding to national Ukrainian organisations, and UNHCR for the provision of shelter and protection to millions of displaced people.
Financial commitments to the UN Population Fund (UNFPA) and the World Health Organisation (WHO) will contribute to work on health infrastructure and in the provision of support to vulnerable women. Ireland will also support the Red Cross family.
Ireland will contribute to the World Bank crisis facility special programme for Ukraine and Moldova, which is aimed at addressing urgent needs, and to the IMF Ukraine Capacity Development Fund supporting the Ukraine policy and reform agenda including EU accession.
A partnership with Lithuania will provide for the construction of bomb shelters in schools in Ukraine.
ENDS
Press Office
03 September 2024
Notes to editors:
• A breakdown of the €36 million in support is as follows:
Support Amount
UN OCHA: Ukraine Humanitarian Fund €5 million
International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) €5 million
UNHCR €5.5 million
United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) €3 million
International Federation of the Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFRC) €3 million
UNICEF €2 million
World Bank IDA Crisis Facility Special Programme for Ukraine and Moldova €3 million
IMF Ukraine Capacity Development Fund €2 million
Lithuanian Central Project Management Agency (CPMA) €3 million
Moldova €2 million
WHO Ukraine Health Appeal €1.5 million
Peace and Stability Funding €1.115 million
Ireland will continue to work in Ukraine through long-standing partners who have proven ability to reach those most in need.
Partners to be supported include:
• UN OCHA which manages the Ukraine Humanitarian Fund (UHF). The fund is a critical channel of support to national NGOs and civil society organisations across Ukraine. Fund partners have so far assisted approximately 3.2 million people affected by the war, including 1.5 million women and girls and more than 480,000 people with disabilities.
• UNHCR for their work with the millions of displaced people across Ukraine. The 2024 UNCHR winter plan aims to support 600,000 people with cash assistance to cover additional winter needs. Ireland has supported UNHCR’s Core Homes Project, which is on target to build 300 prefab homes for families to return to where their previous homes were destroyed.
• UNFPA for their work in the delivery of life-saving Sexual Reproductive Health and Gender Based Violence services and supplies including the provision of clinical management of rape and psychosocial support services. Ireland will also continue to support UNFPA’s VONA hubs which are career -building hubs offering psychosocial support, vocational training and facilitation of employment for women at risk from gender-based violence. Ireland will also directly support UNFPA provision of maternity services in dangerous regions.
• WHO for their emergency response to the direct consequences of the war on health. The organisation is coordinating over 200 health care actors engaged in the humanitarian response and supporting the Ministry of Health in Ukraine with information management, surveillance, and early warning systems.
• UNICEF for their 2024 Humanitarian Action for Children in Ukraine appeal targeting 1.6 million of the 3.3 million children in need. UNICEF will continue to work closely with the Ukrainian government and other partners on re-integration of returned children, including using the Better Care family -based care model, which re-integrates returned Ukrainian children in a safe, orderly manner, alongside the UNICEF-led package of integrated social services, case management and mental health and psychosocial support.
• International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) in their role in situations of crisis and conflict as neutral intermediaries and guardians of International Humanitarian Law. Teams from the Ukrainian Red Cross Society (URCS) and ICRC work together to support communities at the frontline. The ICRC also works to bring answers to families of the missing or prisoners of war. Ireland’s funding will also support high-level international interventions to reunite families with children who were forcibly deported from Ukraine.
• International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFRC) working hand in hand with the Ukraine Red Cross Society (URCS) and national societies in neighbouring countries responding to the Ukraine crisis through various programmes including Cash and Voucher Assistance, Health and Care, Migration and Displacement, Protection, Gender and Inclusion, Relief, and Shelter.
Ireland will also support:
• Construction of school shelters in cooperation with Lithuania: We will work with Lithuania, which through the Central Project Management Agency has been managing the building by Ukrainian construction companies of bomb shelters for schools in Ukraine, and, in some cases, rebuilding destroyed schools to ensure that children can continue their education.
• World Bank IDA Crisis Facility Special Programme for Ukraine and Moldova : Our support of the World Bank IDA Crisis Facility Special Programme for Ukraine and Moldova addresses urgent needs arising from overlapping global crises, particularly food insecurity and extreme climate events, exacerbated by the war in Ukraine, both in the immediate region and the wider world.
• IMF Ukraine Capacity Development Fund: The IMF Ukraine Capacity Development Fund supports the Ukrainian authorities’ ambitious policy and reform agenda. It focuses on macroeconomic stabilisation, pursuing post-war reconstruction and working towards the goal of EU accession.
• Peace and Stability Funding: We are providing core funding for peacebuilding organisations that work in Ukraine – Centre for Humanitarian Dialogue (CHD), the Crisis Management Initiative (CMI), European Institute for Peace and Justice Rapid Response. Ireland will provide funding to the OSCE Support Programme for Ukraine and to a number of civil society organisations, where focus will be on peace and stability interventions. Additionally, we support to the CSDP mission and both the Centre for Humanitarian Dialogue (CHD) and Crisis Management Initiative (CMI) for peace mediation work in Ukraine and Moldova.
• Moldova: Ireland will continue to support Moldova as it manages the large flow of refugees fleeing the war, and in pursuit of its own EU accession goals via the World Bank ’s Moldova – Growth, Resilience and Opportunities for Well -being Trust Fund .
ENDS