Donetsk, Mar 22 - DAN. The Donbass people reunification humanitarian programme hotline has reported more than 6,500 phone calls since the beginning of this year, the programme Centre told the Donetsk News Agency on Thursday.

“The Donbass people reunification humanitarian programme Call Centre received 6,558 calls since January 1, 2018,” it said.

Most of the calls were requests to help residents in a difficult situation or provide medical assistance.

The Donetsk People’s Republic has been implementing the humanitarian programme since 17 February 2017. It provides for medical and financial assistance, quotas for higher and vocational education for residents of Kiev-held areas, and their involvement, together with the DPR population in sport and cultural events and measures aimed to preserve spiritual and cultural values in the region.

On 26 April 2017, the DPR launched a humanitarian programme hotline as requests for assistance increased dramatically.*jk