Donetsk, Aug 22 - DAN. United Donbass Foundation has paid over 7.2 million rubles worth of fianncial aid to Donetsk Region residents since the start of its operation, Foundation chairman Oleg Balykin told a news briefing at Donetsk News Agency on Tuesday.

“As of 21 August 2017, United Donbass Foundation had paid a total of 7,202,640 rubles to 234 of the 295 applicants whose requests for help had been granted,” Balykin said.

Some 3.8 million rubles were paid to 114 recipients living in Kiev-controlled territory of Donetsk Region, and the remaining money was allotted to 120 DPR residents.

The Foundation’s Commission has had eight sessions overall. It will review some 500 applications at the next meeting on 25 August.

DPR launched United Donbass Foundation on 9 March 2017 as part of the Donbass people reunification humanitarian programme 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 of citizens are eligible for assistance. *jk