4.7 billion euros in aid delivered: EU explains how humanitarian funds support Ukraine
Hadja Lahbib, EU Commissioner for Equality, Preparedness and Crisis Management (photo: Dmytro Semeniuk, RBC-Ukraine)
EU aid focuses on Ukraine's most urgent humanitarian needs — from food support to winter energy resilience, said Hadja Lahbib, EU Commissioner for Equality, Preparedness and Crisis Management, in an interview with RBC-Ukraine.
According to her, EU support is directed toward key sectors such as healthcare, housing, water supply, sanitation, and hygiene. Important areas also include civilian protection, education in emergency conditions, and humanitarian demining.
The commissioner also paid special attention to preparations for the winter period. She stressed that the assistance includes everything necessary to help Ukrainians endure the freezing winter.
In particular, this includes the supply of food products, sleeping bags, housing support, and, of course, the delivery of generators and many other items critical for survival in cold conditions.
Hadja Lahbib also provided data on funding volumes. Since the start of the full-scale war, the EU, together with its member states, has allocated €4.7 billion in humanitarian aid, of which €1.4 billion was provided directly by the European Commission.
Overall, total support for Ukraine — including financial, military, humanitarian assistance, and aid for refugees — has now reached €193 billion.
Ukraine funding plan
Ukraine urgently needs financial assistance from Western partners, as the state budget deficit is estimated at approximately $60 billion.
Previously, EU leaders repeatedly confirmed their readiness to support Ukraine for as long as necessary.
In January, the European Commission presented a plan to provide Ukraine with a €90 billion loan, which was agreed at a summit in mid-December. Under the plan, €30 billion will go toward budget support and €60 billion toward Kyiv's defense needs.
After that, a dispute arose within the EU over granting Kyiv the €90 billion loan.
On February 11, it became known that the European Parliament approved a €90 billion loan for Ukraine.
