Donetsk, Aug 11 - DAN. United Donbass Foundation has provided financial aid to 189 people in DPR and Kiev-controlled part of Donetsk Region since it started operation earlier this year, Foundation chairman Oleg Balykin said on Friday.

“As of 10 August, payments totalled 5,743,225 rubles; 2,991,965 rubles were paid to 91 residents of Kiev-held areas and 2,751,260 rubles to 98 DPR residents,” Balykin said.

The Foundation has approved 221 requests for assistance overall. On Saturday, the Foundation’s Commission will have its 8th meeting to review some 400 applications from Donbass residents asking for financial aid, he added.

DPR launched United Donbass Foundation on 9 March 2017 as part of the Donbass people reunification programmes approved by DPR and LPR heads Alexander Zakharchenko and Igor Plotnitskiy on 17 February 2017.

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