Drinking water and energy supply to be restored
Today, the Federal Environment Ministry and the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development in London created a new financing framework to provide 20 million euros for emergency aid in Ukraine. The aim is to improve the living conditions of the population by remedying war damage to critical environment-related infrastructure. This includes, for example, remedial work for drinking water and energy supply and the reduction of war-related emissions with potentially harmful impacts on the population, for example in waste water, to include provision of mobile stations and devices.
Federal Environment Minister Steffi Lemke commented: "The most recent Russian air attacks on Ukrainian cities have caused major damage to both the infrastructure and the environment. Damage to parts of the critical public infrastructure, such as water and waste water management infrastructure, poses a grave risk to the population. Soil and water pollution have a direct impact on the safety and health of the population. With our commitment, we are taking this as a starting point and contributing to effective support for Ukraine."
Germany is fulfilling its pledge made in June 2022 at the G7 Summit under German Presidency to work on the creation of a platform like this one. The commitment is part of an international support programme for Ukraine. At the signing ceremony, Ukraine's Acting Minister for Communities and Territories Development, Vasyl Lozynskyy, and the Deputy Minister for Energy, Yuliia Pidgomorna, were present virtually.
The facility for emergency aid supported by the Federal Environment Ministry is being implemented in partnership with the Eastern Europe Energy Efficiency and Environment Partnership Fund (E5P) of the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development.
The initiative lays a foundation for emergency aid measures for the environment. It is open for additional donors, in particular the G7 countries.