The Basque government activates the Isuri fund to deal with the social consequences of the war in Ukraine

The Basque government, through the Ministry of Equality, Justice and Social Policy, has activated the Isuri fund, which has €15.1 millionwhich includes a package of urgent measures to deal with the economic and social consequences of the war in Ukraine.

In a statement, the Basque government explained that to the “immediate measures” taken in the days following the Russian invasion of the country, “additional measures” are now being added to meet the needs of the “most vulnerable sectors of the the population”.

Help for refugee families

Among the five programs that make up Isuri is ‘Azken sarea indartzen Ukraine’including providing assistance to refugees and families to meet their basic needs.

The Basque government has stated that, in the context of the crisis unleashed by the war in Ukraine, this program has been relaunched with a total allocation of EUR 3 million to help displaced families who have arrived in the Basque Country and are being accommodated in Basque houses.

In addition, he emphasized that the role of Euskadi’s third social sector entities is “essential” in the development of these initiatives and that therefore one of the other programs Isuries Loturak, which will connect migrants to local reception networks. The budget for this “strategic” item is EUR 500,000, while an amount of EUR 1.5 million is also earmarked for the initial reception programme.

Within the framework of the supplementary social rescue fund, a psychosocial support program called Berritze will also be offered, which, in order to facilitate coexistence, will serve both Ukrainian individuals and families sheltered in Basque homes, who will serve themselves.

The latter include those associated with the Chernobyl boys’ and girls’ reception associations, who have experienced “with particular concern” the situation of “extreme seriousness and incommunicado” caused by the Russian invasion of Ukraine in the area adjacent to the Chernobyl exclusion area.

Berritze It will conduct a psychological assessment and propose the most appropriate therapeutic approach to address the anxiety and post-traumatic stress symptoms caused by the war conflict, in addition to guiding the affected people in their grieving process. The budget reserved for this program is EUR 500,000.

The Isuri Fund is also considering expanding Aukerak Suspertzenan extracurricular educational support program that seeks to bridge the digital divide and strengthen the capacities of girls, boys, adolescents and families in a socially disadvantaged situation by activating the local community structure.

In order to include children and adolescents from Ukraine and facilitate their academic integration, Aukerak Suspertzen has increased its budget by EUR 300,000. The package of measures for the reception of refugees from Ukraine will be complemented by a leisure educational program for these young people, which the Basque government is already developing and which will be activated later.

At the end of the month, when the first four programs are activated, information is also provided about the established channels and the necessary procedures to access the help and programs.

vulnerable groups

In addition to the programs specifically aimed at the reception of people and families from Ukraine, the social rescue fund established by the Basque government also includes additional aid for the reception of various Basque groups in vulnerable situations.

For example, the Social Emergency Aid (AES) will be increased by 3.5 million euros to absorb the economic consequences of the invasion of Ukraine in Basque households.

Similarly, the program ‘Azken sarea indartzen’, to meet the basic needs of people who have no other sources of income and have no access to other types of aid, will be reinforced with 3 million euros. This is a reactivation of the same program that was part of the Covid fund ‘Inor atzean utzi gabe’ in 2020, which prevents 4,128 families at “serious risk” from ending up in a situation of exclusion, and which also extends to displaced Ukrainians. individuals and families.

For its part, the program against energy poverty formulated through the Red Cross increases its initial budget by 200,000 euros, to one million euros, in addition to the financial aid in this area.

Similarly, the package of additional measures activated by the Executive includes a post of 600,000 euros for the integration of the homeless; while expanding the program by 1.5 million trapezoid branch, which offers help to young people who do not have a family support network. Finally, another EUR 500,000 will be earmarked for strengthening local support networks for older people in vulnerable situations.