Swiss Aid Convoy Delivers 300 Tonnes of Chemicals to Clean Water in Donetsk

A 15-truck Swiss convoy has delivered about 300 tonnes of chemicals to clean drinking water in the conflict-torn eastern Ukrainian city of Donetsk, the Swiss Federal Department of Foreign Affairs said in a statement.

MOSCOW (Sputnik) — The water treatment chemicals – mainly aluminium sulphate — will provide 3.5 million people on both sides of the contact line with clean drinking water, according to Swiss authorities.

The convoy is allegedly the largest to have crossed the line of contact between Kiev-led forces and Donetsk militia since an armed conflict broke out in eastern Ukraine in April 2014.

"A 15-truck convoy organized by Swiss Humanitarian Aid reached the city of Donetsk in eastern Ukraine today. After a journey of several hours from Dnipropetrovsk through areas on both sides of the contact line, the convoy delivered approximately 300 tonnes of chemicals to the Donetsk water company," the statement, published Friday, reads.

Over a year of fighting has put the Donetsk region on the verge of a humanitarian disaster, as important infrastructure has been destroyed and many local residents have been left without food, drinking water and electricity.

Switzerland has for months been providing aid to people affected by the conflict on both sides of the contact line. In addition to sending water treatment chemicals, Swiss Humanitarian Aid works alongside its Czech partner organization People in Need to repair damaged homes.