WFP's complementary cash assistance programme, launched in August 2023, is designed to support pensioners with low pensions who live in areas of active or possible hostilities, as defined by the State, by complementing the pensions they receive. Since August 2023, more than 360,000 pensioners have received payments from WFP under this programme. Contributions from Finland and other donors are allowing WFP to expand the programme until the end of 2024.
Overall, since February 2022, Finland contributed €11 million to support WFP's humanitarian operations in Ukraine. €1 million was used to support a joint WFP-FAO agricultural mine action programme to help rural families and small farmers safely restart food production in the Kharkiv region, and €8 million were used to provide food assistance to communities living near the frontline as well as cash assistance to the most vulnerable around the country.
"By providing flexible funds, Finland continues to demonstrate its commitment to principled humanitarian assistance while enabling us to support Ukrainians who need it most, to kickstart new initiatives and cover funding gaps," said Richard Ragan, WFP Country Director in Ukraine. "We are deeply grateful to the Government of Finland for their constant support to our humanitarian programmes and to the people of Ukraine".
Cash assistance is one of many ways WFP supports Ukrainians affected by the war. WFP also distributes food boxes in areas closest to the frontline, where food is hard to find or very expensive, supports national school feeding programme, and supports the safe release of mined agricultural land in the Kharkiv region to help farmers and food producers resume work. WFP also chartered 25 vessels to export Ukrainian grain to countries in need through the Black Sea Grain Initiative and the Grain From Ukraine Initiative.
