Donetsk, Mar 15 - DAN. The United Donbass Foundation has paid nearly 16 million rubles worth of financial assistance to the needy since the beginning of this year, Foundation chairman Oleg Balykin told the Donetsk News Agency Thursday.

“The United Donbass Foundation, under the aegis of the Donbass people reunification humanitarian programme, is continuing to help residents in a difficult situation,” Balykin said. “It provided 474 benefits totalling 15,914,000 rubles from January 1 through March 13.”

As many as 1,897 residents of the region have received nearly 58 million rubles worth of cash benefits since last spring, Balykin added. The Foundation Commission plans to review some 400 applications for help at its next session on March 16.

The Foundation was launched on March 9 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 Donetsk People’s Republic residents. *jk