USAID provides over $500 million in additional humanitarian assistance to Ukraine

The U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) is providing more than $500 million in additional humanitarian aid to Ukraine and $2.3 million in equipment for the State Emergency Service.

USAID Administrator Samantha Power announced this at a briefing during her visit to Kyiv, an Ukrinform correspondent reports.

"SESU shows every day the skill and bravery for which the Ukrainian people are known worldwide. But along with skill and bravery, the SESU also needs equipment. I'm pleased to hand over an additional $2.3 million worth of equipment which will help SESU repair the damage inflicted by Russia's forces on Ukraine's critical infrastructure," Power said.

Power informed that 6 tanker trucks are being provided to supply clean drinking water to communities that have been cut off from it, as well as 450 powerful pumps for the SESU offices in Kherson region to help overcome the consequences of the Kakhovka HPP blowing up.

USAID Administrator also emphasized that the funds for the SESU are the "wisest investments" of USAID, noting that about $1.2 billion in direct budget support provided to the Ukrainian government went to pay salaries to more than 50,000 rescuers, including those who overcame the consequences of the destruction of the Kakhovka dam.

"Ukraine has major humanitarian needs that are going to continue as long as Putin continues to wage this war. This equipment and our support for the salaries of first responders help some of those needs. But today I also would like to announce that the United States will provide more than $500 million in additional humanitarian assistance to our humanitarian partners to scale up their response on the frontlines," she said.

According to Power, the United States aims to help Ukrainians with the needs they identify for themselves, from shelter support for those whose homes were destroyed to psychological assistance for those who have been most traumatized by the war.

As reported, the Administrator of the U.S. Agency for International Development Samantha Power arrived in Kyiv for the second time since the start of the full-scale invasion. During her visit, she will meet with government officials, Ukrainian business, civil society, energy experts, youth, rescue workers, and mental health professionals.