Continuity of operation of hospitals, water supply companies, schools and kindergartens is important for everyone, especially for children

Bucha, July 31, 2023 – As a part of the official visit to Ukraine, Gordan Grlić Radman, Minister of Foreign and European Affairs of the Republic of Croatia, visited one of the locations in the Bucha district, including the kindergarten Veselka, with power generators in place, provided in cooperation with the UNICEF Office for Croatia, as part of the development and humanitarian assistance of the Government of the Republic of Croatia.

During the visit, Minister Grlić Radman and Murat Sahin, Representative of the UNICEF Office in Ukraine, discussed the humanitarian crisis that threatens the health and education systems, and the future of children in Ukraine. The constant attacks on the Ukrainian electricity infrastructure have made it difficult for all sectors to function, with the water infrastructure, health and education system being the most affected. In the circumstances in which Ukraine is, it is extremely important to ensure the continuity of operation of key institutions and facilities to provide children with basic services. The donation of the Government of the Republic of Croatia, worth one million Euro contributes to this, as it includes 50 generators that have been placed across Ukraine.

“Croatia was the victim of a brutal military aggression 30 years ago, and it knows best what that means and understands Ukraine. Those experiences have taught us the importance of providing assistance and support when it is most needed. Therefore, I am immensely proud that we have donated one million Euro to UNICEF to help with the urgent restoration of energy infrastructure in Ukraine. Thanks to Croatia's donation, UNICEF has procured 50 generators and delivered them to schools and hospitals across the country, including the Veselka kindergarten, where we gathered today. This generator will ensure a continuous heating system not only for the Veselka kindergarten but also for fourteen residential buildings in the vicinity. We want the warmth this generator brings to symbolize the warmth of our friendship and solidarity towards you, dear Ukrainians”, said Gordan Grlić Radman, Minister of Foreign and European Affairs.

“We are extremely grateful for our partnership with Croatia, which enables us to provide life-saving emergency support to the people of Ukraine. Our cooperation has helped provide crucial services, including healthcare, social services, safe water, and heating during winter to thousands of children and their families. We deeply value our partnership with Croatia and see it as a solid foundation for expanding better care for children, and early childhood development services,” said Murat Sahin, UNICEF Ukraine Representative.

Providing support to Ukraine is one of many projects on which the Ministry of Foreign and European Affairs successfully cooperates with UNICEF as part of the development and humanitarian assistance which refers to activities and measures designed to promote sustainable development in less developed countries. Activities within the Official Development Assistance (ODA) are funded by the state budget of the Republic of Croatia and are used in accordance with the regulations of the OECD Development Assistance Committee on official development assistance. 

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Cooperation projects of MFEA and the UNICEF Office in Croatia within ODA in the period from 2018 to 2023 include: 

• Ensuring quality and timely health care for Syrian refugees in Egypt, with special emphasis on children and women as the most vulnerable 
• Protection and improving the educational conditions of Syrian refugee children in Jordan by financing the construction of five playgrounds for children with disabilities in Azraq and Za'atari refugee camps  
• Humanitarian aid to children and families in Yemen  
• Reconstruction of inclusive children's playgrounds in Lebanon 

• Donation of generators which enable the continuous operation of hospitals and schools in Moldova 
• Establishing three prefabricated schools for children in the earthquake-affected areas of Türkiye