EU to open humanitarian hub for Ukraine in Romania

Bucharest, Mar 3 (EFE).- European Commission chief Ursula von der Leyen on Thursday announced plans to set up a distribution hub for humanitarian assistance in Romania, as part of the EU relief efforts to help Ukrainians fleeing Russia’s invasion.

After a meeting with Romanian president Klaus Iohannis in Bucharest, von der Leyen highlighted Romania’s role as a base for “directing aid received from all over Europe to border crossing points towards Ukraine.”

“Romania has welcomed almost 150,000 (Ukrainians) and provided them with food and shelter. Romanians have given such a moving example to the world,” the German politician said.

Iohannis added that he discussed with the EU leader concrete measures to step up support for Moldova, the ex-Soviet republic “which is currently dealing with a large number of Ukrainian refugees.”

However, Iohannis, who did not specify the location for the new center, also expected that the situation in Ukraine will further deteriorate further amid the Ukrainians’ significant growing need for help.

Aid arriving in Ukraine via Romania requires the EU to open humanitarian corridors in order to deliver relief to civilians trapped inside conflict zones, a step that requires more negotiations with Russia, according to Iohannis.

Furthermore, von der Leyen said that the EU will deploy at least 500 million euros ($554 million) from the EU budget in response to the humanitarian emergency in Ukraine.

Iohannis and von der Leyen insisted that it is essential to continue imposing sanctions against Russia, as well as their commitment to using green energy and nuclear power to ensure energy independence from the Eurasian country. EFE

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