Services for victims of gender-based violence, work to return abducted children and the construction of prefab homes for refugees are among the projects to be supported by a new tranche of Irish funding for Ukraine.
Taoiseach Simon Harris is to announce a €36 million package aimed at supporting Ukraine and neighbouring countries during a visit to Kyiv on Wednesday.
The funding is for essential humanitarian assistance, rehabilitation and eventual reconstruction, and it will contribute to Ukraine’s longer term goals including peace, stability and political aspirations.
The latest cash will bring Ireland’s total funding to Ukraine since February 2022 to more than €380 million, including approximately €130 million in stabilisation and humanitarian support.
Ireland’s assistance this year 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.
Tánaiste Micheál Martin said: “Our support for Ukraine is unwavering. Ireland will continue to stand with the people of Ukraine for as long as necessary.”
The Government said it will continue to work in Ukraine through long-standing partners with proven ability to reach those most in need.
The UN Office for the Co-ordination of Humanitarian Affairs’s (OCHA) Ukraine Humanitarian Fund will receive €5 million.
The money will go to non-governmental and civil society organisations across Ukraine, including assisting 1.5 million women and girls and more than 480,000 people with disabilities.
The United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) is to receive €5.5 million.
The UNHCR winter plan aims to support 600,000 people with cash assistance to cover additional winter needs.
Ireland has supported the Core Homes Project, which is on target to build 300 prefab homes for families to return where their previous homes were destroyed.
The United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) has been allocated €3 million, to provide “live-saving sexual reproductive health and gender-based violence services”, including rape support.
Ireland will provide the International Federation of the Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFRC) with €3 million.
Unicef has been allocated €2 million as part of the Government’s focus on the reintegration of children who have been abducted to Russia and Belarus.
The International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) has been allocated €5 million. Ireland’s funding will also support high-level international interventions to reunite families with children who were forcibly deported from Ukraine.
The World Bank IDA Crisis Facility Special Programme for Ukraine and Moldova has been allocated €3 million with a particular focus on food security.
The International Monetary Fund (IMF) Ukraine Capacity Development Fund, which focuses on macroeconomic stabilisation, EU membership, and post-war reconstruction, will receive €2 million.
The Lithuanian Central Project Management Agency (CPMA) will be given €3 million to support the building of bomb shelters for schools in Ukraine by local companies. It also goes towards rebuilding schools that have been damaged.
Moldova will receive €2 million for its management of a large flow of refugees and its pursuit of EU membership.
The World Health Organisation (WHO) Ukraine Health Appeal has been allocated €1.5 million.
Ireland has also set aside €1.115 million in Peace and Stability Funding.
