ReliefWeb

Unofficial Translation

On 11 November, the State Firefighting and Rescue Service (VUGD) in cooperation with the European Commission's Directorate General for Humanitarian Aid and Civil Protection (ECHO) delivered humanitarian aid from Latvia – nine electric power generators – to Ukraine in response to the Ukrainian government’s appeal for humanitarian assistance and civil protection. The State Emergency Service of Ukraine will forward the generators to the districts of the Donetsk and Luhansk Oblasts that are no longer in the hands of separatists to facilitate restoration of infrastructure and a steady supply of electric power to state and local government institutions, especially those accommodating children. Assistance was arranged via the EU Civil Protection Mechanism, which also covered 55% of transportation costs to Ukraine.

The Deputy Head of the State Emergency Service of Ukraine, Vasil Stoetskiy, expressed appreciation this assistance, which is of vital importance for Ukraine at this difficult period while meeting with the Head of the ECHO Office in Kyiv, Mamar Merzouk; a Latvian expert seconded to ECHO, Edmunds Āķītis; a representative of the Embassy of Latvia, Ligita Davidova; and Major Andris Krots, Chief of the Call Processing and Resource Management Division of the VUGD Board of Control and Operation.

In view of the fact that Latvia is the first EU Member State which has responded to the appeal launched via the EU Civil Protection Mechanism, Ligita Davidova, on behalf of the Latvian Embassy in Kiev, said that, in light of Latvia’s example, she was hopeful that other EU Member States would also be responding. Edmunds Āķītis, the expert seconded by Latvia to ECHO also commented positively on the support offered by Latvia and the involvement of experts from the three Baltic states in dealing with humanitarian issues in Ukraine and said that Latvia’s contribution can serve as a model for other EU states in this regard.

The group of humanitarian assistance experts from Latvia, Lithuania and Estonia will stay in Ukraine until 13 November and offer advice to their Ukrainian colleagues. EU Experts from EU member states are assisting Ukrainian authorities with evaluation technical and institutional capabilities at the temporary accommodation facilities for the internally displaced persons and conducting a needs assessment, which is essential in preparing for the oncoming winter weather.

On 25 October, the Cabinet of Ministers of the Republic of Latvia decided on a delivery of humanitarian aid to Ukraine – 9 electric power generators – valued at over 45,000 EUR.

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