Donetsk, Sep 26 - DAN. United Donbass Foundation Commission has approved 21 million rubles worth of financial assistance to 719 residents of the region since the start of its operation, Foundation chairman Oleg Balykin told a news briefing at Donetsk News Agency on Tuesday.

“The Foundation has approved 719 applications overall to allocate a total of 21,269,840 rubles worth of financial assistance,” Balykin said. “Of those, 360 DPR-based residents received a total of 10,240,795 rubles and 359 residents of Kiev-held areas of Donetsk Region received 11,029,045 rubles.”

The Commission, at its 11th meeting on 22 September, approved allocations totalling 4,282,900 rubles to 144 out of more than 200 applicants. The Foundation has paid a total of RUR 16,122,940 to the needy up to date.

DPR launched United Donbass Foundation on 9 March 2017 as part of the Donbass people reunification programme. The programme envisions cash payments and provision of food and medications which can also be contributed by DPR residents. Nine groups are eligible for assistance, including persons in the 1st and 2nd disability categories, single parent families with children up to 18 years of age, families with three or more children up to 18 years of age, citizens aged over 65 and some other groups.*jk