By Judith Ugwumadu | 12 September 2014

The European Commission said it would mobilise a further €22m to help the people in Ukraine regions suffering from the consequence of the ongoing conflict.

Its funding would comprise of €5m in humanitarian assistance and €17m in development aid. It follows four months of fighting in Ukraine’s south-eastern city of Mariupol.

The €5m for humanitarian assistance comes on top of €2.5m, which the Commission allocated last month to help the victims of the conflict. The funds will cover shelter, food, water, healthcare, psycho-social assistance and protection in preparation for the coming winter.

The €17m for development aid has been granted under an ongoing programme and will be spent on social, economic and territorial cohesion of the country.

Outgoing European Commission President José Manuel Barroso said the European Union had been watching the continuing conflict in Ukraine with ‘great concern’.

‘The current cease fire needs to be upheld and used as an opportunity to alleviate the conditions of those in need, namely women and children,’ he said

‘This is why the European Commission is mobilising €22m to assist the population in need and promote social and economic development in the country.’

Kristalina Georgieva, outgoing EU commissioner for international cooperation, humanitarian aid and crisis response, added: ‘With winter on the doorstep, the situation is additionally worrying. We are therefore scaling up our assistance to meet the basic humanitarian needs of the people who are affected.’