Kiev approves program on post-conflict recovery in E. Ukraine

KIEV, Dec. 13 (Xinhua) -- The Ukrainian government during its meeting on Wednesday has approved the state program on the post-conflict recovery in the country's eastern regions for 2017-2020, the government's press service said.

The program named "Recovery and Peace Building in eastern Ukraine" is aimed at boosting social and economic development of the conflict-affected regions and improving the well-being of the local population.

It envisages the government support for the economic recovery in the conflict-hit regions, as well as for the restoration of key infrastructure facilities and security.

The program covers government-controlled areas in Donetsk and Lugansk regions, which were directly affected by the conflict, as well as three peaceful regions in the eastern and southeastern part of the country, which became home to the majority of people displaced by the conflict.

Last year, the Ukrainian government estimated that the post-conflict recovery in eastern Ukraine would require about 20 billion U.S. dollars in investment.

The conflict between government troops and pro-independence insurgents started in eastern Ukraine in April 2014. Enditem