Supporting Ukraine – Ways to Help a Country in Need
There are numerous ways to supporting Ukraine people. Economic assistance, humanitarian aid, and political support are just a few. Learn more about them here.
Economic Assistance
After the Russian invasion of Ukraine, the United States and its allies have committed billions of dollars in humanitarian relief and military assistance. But it is also important to discuss economic assistance for Ukraine. The goal should be to rebuild the country and integrate it into the EU.
Economic aid should be structured in a way that encourages Ukrainians to take responsibility for their own reconstruction. Donors must also coordinate their assistance and monitor its implementation.
International aid should be targeted and timed so that it progresses from humanitarian relief to economic recovery. It should also be administered in a transparent and accountable manner.
In June, the World Bank estimated that the country’s reconstruction needs would reach $349 billion. By September, the bank identified three key pathways for transferring resources from abroad.
Several institutions have proposed contributing to post-war reconstruction in Ukraine. These include the European Commission, which has drafted a proposal for 18 billion EUR in loans to Ukraine for 2023.
The G7 has committed $29.6 billion in support for Kyiv. Meanwhile, the German Marshall Fund of the United States (GMF) published Designing Ukraine’s Recovery in the Spirit of the Marshall Plan in September.
Other donors have provided emergency relief to Ukraine. The International Monetary Fund (IMF) has disbursed two rounds of emergency financial supporting Ukraine.
The IMF also set up an “administered account” for donor countries to channel aid to Ukraine.
Supporting Ukraine Humanitarian Aid
Millions of people are in need of humanitarian aid in Ukraine. The ongoing conflict in the country has left insurmountable suffering and destruction. It is estimated that more than 15 million people are in need of emergency assistance until 2022.
In response to the humanitarian crisis, the United Nations has launched an emergency appeal, seeking $1.7 billion to meet urgent needs. These needs include food, water, shelter, health care, and protection for supporting Ukraine.
International Red Cross organizations have provided cash, water, and sanitation services to millions of displaced and homeless people in Ukraine. The Red Cross also works to protect women and children from violence.
In addition, the American Red Cross has contributed more than $40 million to the IFRC’s efforts to provide aid to those affected by the war in Ukraine.
Other humanitarian agencies, such as the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF), are ready to support the most vulnerable.
Despite the efforts of the international community to support Ukraine, there are many concerns. Some of the main ones involve corruption.
Donors must work to strengthen the Ukrainian public sector, and put the humanitarian response in the hands of Ukrainian organizations.
A new report suggests that the number of Ukrainians in need of humanitarian assistance is much higher than previously thought. It also indicates that foreign humanitarian groups have taken control of the aid economy and are supersizing their staff.
Political Support
The question of waning Western support for Ukraine has dominated the political discussion in Washington, D.C. and throughout the United States.
A recent survey of Americans by the Chicago Council on Global Affairs found that nearly three-quarters of them support continued aid to Ukraine. This is a remarkable statistic given the length of the war and the age of the conflict.
While the question of waning Western supporting Ukraine has kept pollsters busy, a few recent statements indicate the possibility of cracks in the consensus.
One of the more intriguing was a statement by House Minority leader Kevin McCarthy that “it’s not a free blank check” to Kyiv. He then went on to declare that such support would end under a Republican-led Congress.
As it happens, it may not be long before a Republican-led Congress finds itself in charge. If it does, Europeans will need to be ready for increased pressure from Washington.
Whether or not that pressure will be directed at Ukraine remains to be seen. But, Europeans cannot afford to forget about the situation in Ukraine.
The European Union does have a large amount of economic and humanitarian capabilities, which can be used to offset some of the impact of the U.S.’s military support. However, it is not yet clear how the Europeans will react if Putin launches an offensive against Ukraine.
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