Donetsk, Mar 16 - DAN. Some 70,000 residents of Kiev-controlled areas have received assistance as part of the Donbass people reunification humanitarian programme over the past four years, DPR Foreign Minister Natalia Nikonorova said on Tuesday.

“Over four years of its implementation (Donbass people reunification humanitarian programme - eds Donetsk News Agency), some 70,000 residents have received much needed help and support,” Nikonorova said as she presented the Foreign Ministry’s progress report 2020 to the DPR parliament.

In 2020, the programme was not implemented in full due to COVID-19 pandemic restrictions, she said.

Earlier, DPR Head Denis Pushilin said at the international forum Russian Donbass that the humanitarian programme for the reunification of the Donbass people would be continued and expanded to cover all Russian-speaking residents of Ukraine.

The DPR has been implementing the humanitarian programme since February 2017. Its objective is to strengthen cultural, humanitarian and professional ties and provide social and public services. For example, the DPR provides medical and financial support and other kinds of assistance.*jk*pp