Island's donations aiding Ukraine frontline
14 April 2022
The Economic and International Affairs Scrutiny Panel questioned the Minister for International Development, Deputy Carolyn Labey, at its final Quarterly Public Hearing of this term of office. During the hearing, the Panel heard:
- Jersey Overseas Aid (JOA) is responsible for distributing the Bailiff's Ukraine Appeal and, of the £2.1 million of funding collected so far, £1.8 million has been spent.
- Donations to the Bailiff's Ukraine Appeal are going to UNICEF and UNHCR which are delivering aid to the frontline of the Ukraine conflict, including 4,000 trauma kits and 150 ballistic vests and helmets for medical staff.
- During her recent visit to Poland, the Minister was highly impressed by the coordination between the NGOs which are using JOA funds to aid Ukraine.
- The Minister is in favour of 'hard stance' when it comes to the freezing of assets of Russian oligarchs.
- JOA is delaying the start of new development projects to reserve emergency funds.
- In line with the evolving Island Identity, the need for a Jersey anthem is urgent.
- JOA is no longer focusing emergency funding on Covid-19, however, £300,000 was used for Covid-19 aid in 2021.
- Official Covid-19 figures in Africa have been significantly underreported.
Chair of the Economic and International Affairs Scrutiny Panel, Deputy David Johnson, said: "The Panel thanks the Minister and the Director of Jersey Overseas Aid for attending our final Quarterly Public Hearing during this term of office. We were pleased to hear that the Minister is satisfied with the work that NGOs are doing in Poland to put the Island's donations to best use and ensure that there is coordination with refugees. In addition, we welcome the fact that such donations are being directly used to assist medics on the ground. Aside from the Ukraine conflict, we agree with the Minister that the Island is in urgent need of its own anthem, and hope that, by way of tribute to the late Connétable of St. Saviour, the next States Assembly might consider 'Beautiful Jersey' as a suitable candidate."
