Switzerland supports Ukraine with 45 million francs for the winter
Published: Wednesday, Dec 18th 2024, 14:00
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The suffering population in war-torn Ukraine will continue to receive aid from Switzerland this winter: almost CHF 45 million will be used to restore the energy infrastructure destroyed by Russian attacks, renovate damaged shelters and cover urgent humanitarian needs.
The targeted Russian attacks on Ukraine's critical infrastructure have had devastating consequences, according to a statement issued by the Federal Department of Foreign Affairs (FDFA) on Wednesday. More than half of the country's energy production has been destroyed, leaving millions of people without adequate access to electricity, heating and water.
According to the FDFA, the Swiss Agency for Development and Cooperation (SDC) and the State Secretariat for Economic Affairs (SECO) are helping authorities, local partners and UN organizations to provide for the Ukrainian population during the winter. This is the third winter of war since Russian President Vladimir Putin gave the order to launch a military invasion of his neighboring country on February 24, 2022.
For displaced persons and those living near the front
A special focus of the Swiss mission in Ukraine is therefore on vulnerable groups, especially those displaced in the country itself and the population near the front or in remote regions. These are supported, for example, with the distribution of heating material and winter clothing, as well as the restoration and insulation of damaged accommodation.
Around 30 percent of the total Ukrainian population is considered to be displaced at home or abroad.
The Swiss winter aid package builds on existing experience and networks. According to the FDFA, Switzerland has provided a total of CHF 84.5 million for winter aid in Ukraine over the past two winters.
However, Switzerland is not one of the most generous supporters of Ukraine. In October, for example, Norway pledged an aid package worth the equivalent of 233 million francs (260 million dollars) for this winter. Yet the Scandinavian country has just over half the population of Switzerland.
©Keystone/SDA
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