EU announces aid to countries receiving Ukrainian refugees

BRUSSELS (AP) — On Wednesday, the European Union announced measures to aid Member States that have received the millions of Ukrainians fleeing the war to provide schools for children, health care, housing and work.

European Commissioner for Home Affairs Ylva Johansson said the EU executive is taking steps to prevent the exploitation of the most vulnerable refugees, in particular unaccompanied children.

The United Nations says that more than 3.5 million people, mostly women and children, have fled Ukraine in the month since Russian tanks crossed the border and the merciless cannonade of cities and towns began.

European Commission Vice President Margaritis Schinas said the new measures complement the “Temporary Protection Directive” issued earlier this month and initiatives across Europe to host refugees.

“We will translate the goodwill of Europeans into practical aid for the millions forced to leave their homes,” he said.

The protection system, created in 2001 to respond to the consequences of the Balkan wars in the 1990s, but not used until now, facilitates the entry of Ukrainians arriving in the EU and establishes that they have, among other rights, employment and accommodation.

The measures announced on Wednesday support EU countries in meeting these commitments. The commission has allocated 3.4 billion euros ($3.7 billion) to help finance the measures, although in principle it was not clear how and where the money will be used.