Following his meeting with President Zelensky today, President Joe Biden said today that the United States is providing more than $374 million through the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) in response to the ongoing needs caused by President Putin’s war on Ukraine. announced that it was providing additional humanitarian assistance. Continued Russian attacks on civilian housing and critical infrastructure have left many communities without access to safe shelter, food, clean water and sanitation, and other basic services during the harsh winter. , this additional life-saving assistance is at a critical time.
With this additional funding, USAID will partner with the United Nations Children’s Fund, the United Nations World Food Programme, the United Nations World Health Organization, and non-governmental organizations to alleviate the suffering of millions of the worst-affected people. Provide multi-sectoral humanitarian assistance. This includes those displaced by fighting. The funds will help our partners provide urgently needed food and cash assistance to more than 1.5 million people, as well as health care, humanitarian protection, safe drinking water and sanitation services, trauma assistance, Provide winter relief supplies and shelter repairs to help more than 25,000 people. million people.
The United States remains the largest donor of humanitarian assistance to Ukraine. Since Putin launched a full-scale invasion of Ukraine in February, the U.S. government has taken 19 million dollars to help the people of Ukraine and those fleeing neighboring countries, including more than $1.4 billion in USAID humanitarian aid. We have provided over a billion dollars in humanitarian aid.
Since the February 24 Russian attacks, USAID has been working with national and regional humanitarian partners to provide life-saving humanitarian assistance to Ukrainians, while responding to cyberattacks and threats to the energy sector. has strengthened its critical development support and countered disinformation. Supporting small businesses and the agricultural sector, documenting human rights violations, addressing essential health needs, and strengthening the continued functioning of local, regional and national government agencies. We remain in solidarity with the people of Ukraine and are committed to providing life-saving assistance to those most in need.
