Sweden allocates 10.7 million euros to support women and girls in Moldova and Ukraine. The announcement was made by the Stockholm government on March 8.
The financial aid will strengthen the efforts of the two countries to respond to the humanitarian needs of women and girls, and also to promote their opportunities and rights in both the long and short term.
“Russia’s large-scale invasion of Ukraine and attacks on medical facilities have life-threatening consequences for women and girls. This allocated money can be used for life-saving interventions, including more mobile medical clinics, equipment to prevent maternal and child mortality, and even protection and support for victims of sexual violence during conflict. This decision is fully in line with the government’s priorities for foreign aid – to mitigate the effects of the war in Ukraine,” said the Swedish Minister for International Development Cooperation and Foreign Trade, Johan Forssell.
The Swedish government’s support is aimed at meeting the humanitarian needs of women and girls, promoting opportunities and rights, in particular – sexual and reproductive health and rights, and combating sexual and gender-based violence. At the same time, the support will contribute to the reconstruction and strengthening of the medical system and health infrastructure in Ukraine, which has been severely affected by the Russian attacks.
“Russia’s large-scale invasion has put millions of civilians, most of them women and girls, at risk. We still have an acute current situation to deal with, but it is equally important for us to ensure that women continue to be vocal in the reconstruction and recovery of our country,” says Government Commissioner for Gender Equality Policy in Ukraine, Kateryna Levchenko.
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The aid provided to Moldova will be used to support women and girls who have fled the war.
“In the Republic of Moldova, the majority of beneficiaries of medical services among refugees from Ukraine are women and girls. Over the course of a year, the health system ensured their access to reproductive health services, surgical interventions, dialysis sessions, and medicines. Doctors in the country assisted 219 births of Ukrainian women. The medical assistance provided to the refugees was completely free, and part of the costs were covered by international partners, on whose support we continue to count”, said Ala Nemerenco, Minister of Health of the Republic of Moldova
Almost 9 million euros will be allocated to Ukraine and Moldova through UNFPA, while another approximately 2 million euros will be directed to Ukraine through UN Women.