Olha Stefanishyna, Deputy Prime Minister for European and Euro-Atlantic Integration of Ukraine, spoke online at the Second Meeting of EU Senior Officials responsible for Humanitarian Affairs, which took place on February 13, 2023, in Brussels.
The meeting was opened by EU Commissioner for Crisis Management in charge of European Civil Protection and Humanitarian Aid Janez LenarÄiÄ.
"A year into this brutal war, it is necessary to take stock of the humanitarian response so far. Ensuring winterised shelter and energy assistance is our key priority right now. This is also an opportunity to discuss major challenges in the scope of the emergency response in Ukraine as to ensure that the assistance continues and that it reaches all those affected by the conflict, including in non-government-controlled areas," wrote the European Commissioner on his Twitter account.
In her statement, Olga Stefanishyna thanked for the humanitarian assistance provided to Ukraine through the EU Civil Protection Mechanism and called on the participants to work together to clear the territories of mines.
"Ukraine is the most mined country in the world today. Therefore, there is an urgent need to provide specialized equipment for mechanized demining and protective equipment for effective and safe demining work," the Deputy Prime Minister said.
In the context of restoring the destroyed infrastructure, Olha Stefanishyna emphasized the importance of attracting international investors to invest in the reconstruction of facilities in the heat, water, sewage and household waste management sectors.
She also emphasized the need for Ukraine's full integration into the EU Civil Protection Mechanism.
"This will strengthen our country's ability to prevent and respond to disasters of various kinds, as well as enhance our joint efforts in crisis response at the international level," said Olha Stefanishyna.
The event was also attended by the main EU organizations and partners providing humanitarian aid.
Background Information
With the support of the EU Emergency Response Coordination Center, 4 logistics humanitarian centers have been established under the Civil Protection Mechanism in Poland, Slovakia and Romania. These centers have delivered significant amounts of humanitarian aid and energy equipment to Ukraine, in particular, to restore critical infrastructure and to help people through the winter period.Â
