The German Federal Government is allocating EUR 5 million to support a project to repair schools in Ukraine damaged as a result of the war, the United Nations Development Program (UNDP) in Ukraine reports.

"The project coordinated by UNDP will contribute to the development of sustainability and green recovery through the repair and modernization of damaged educational institutions in the war-affected territories, within the framework of the UNDP program to increase sustainability and recovery. The first facilities where repairs will be financed were selected from a list of 74 schools located in 12 cities that need urgent repairs. The list was compiled by the Ministry of Education of Ukraine," the message says.

The financial contribution of the German government will be distributed among 12 schools in five regions: Zaporizhia, Mykolaiv, Rivne, Sumy and Chernihiv. Thus, more than 3,000 pupils will be able to resume their education.

During the repair work, the Eurocode 8 standard will be applied, which applies to the design and construction of structures and other construction work in seismic areas. A unified approach to the repair and modernization of existing buildings will also be applied. It will be prohibited to use hazardous building materials (for example, asbestos, seals containing persistent organic pollutants), the use of environmentally friendly furniture and equipment will be encouraged (for example, instead of fluorescent lamps containing mercury - LED lamps). In addition, architectural accessibility criteria will become a key part of the initial project task and part of the requirements for the selection of the project team and developers.

"The UNDP team has already begun to inspect each building and assess the specific needs for restoration. The accelerated procurement procedure will make it possible to identify a group of companies to carry out repairs that will be carried out in full compliance with national legislation and Eurocode 8 standards, in compliance with the principles of Build Back Better (‘rebuild better than it was’)," said the UNDP Permanent Representative in Ukraine, Jaco Cilliers, noting that institutions that received minor or partial damage, will be repaired and upgraded.

German Ambassador to Ukraine Anka Feldhuzen noted that it is important to invest in the future of Ukraine, as well as in the sustainability of its children and teachers.

"In the end, these children will live in this big country and rebuild it for the better. But they need schools where they will study, and teachers showing them the way. We also need to make sure that school buildings are health-safe places to study in terms of environmental standards," she stressed.