Ukraine allocates 120 mln USD for post-conflict recovery in eastern region

Ukraine has allocated 120 million U.S. dollars from the budget to the post-conflict recovery in the government-controlled areas of eastern region, President Petro Poroshenko announced on Thursday.

"These funds will be transferred to the local budgets of Donetsk and Lugansk regions, and will be used to finance the speedy recovery of the Donbas," Poroshenko was quoted as saying by his press service.

Out of the total sum, about 40 million dollars will be used for the overhaul of 21 schools, 29 kindergartens, 23 healthcare establishments and some other social facilities, Poroshenko said.

Besides, part of the funds will go to the reconstruction of 113 water supply facilities that were damaged during the fighting, the president added.

According to him, the rest of the sum will be spent on the reconstruction of six bridges and about 60 km of roads in Lugansk region.

The armed confrontation between government troops and pro-independence rebels, which has been raging in eastern Ukraine since April 2014, has caused extensive damage to public and civilian infrastructure.

According to the estimates of the local authorities, in Lugansk region alone, some 7,000 infrastructures were affected by the fighting and their renovation requires at least 330 million dollars.

In 2015, the World Bank has estimated that initial recovery, reconstruction and peace-building in eastern Ukraine needs at least 1.52 billion dollars in investments. Endit