KYIV, Ukraine – The United States Agency for International Development (USAID) announced a $3 million contribution to the U.N. World Food Program's (WFP) emergency operation in Ukraine to assist 120,000 Ukrainians affected by the ongoing conflict.

Dr. Jill Biden made the announcement while on travel to the region with U.S. Vice President Joe Biden. “We are here to express the support of the American people for a free and independent Ukraine. We respect the courage and determination of the Ukrainian people,” said Dr. Biden after meeting with a displaced family at a local Adventist Development and Relief Agency (ADRA).

With this contribution, WFP will provide urgent food assistance primarily in the Donbas region in eastern Ukraine. There are now more than 440,000 displaced persons in Ukraine. WFP is targeting 120,000 displaced persons, returning IDPs, and affected host communities over a six month period from November 2014 to April 2015. WFP will provide beneficiaries cash and vouchers or locally-purchased in-kind food rations as appropriate.

In addition, the announcement made today, USAID is supporting the Government of Ukraine as it implements constitutional and electoral reforms that fulfill its stated goal of becoming a fully inclusive and economically stable democracy. Programs support improvements to the electoral framework; voter education and civic participation; transparent and effective election administration; open and responsive political competition; effective oversight of election processes; election security and redress of infractions; and a diverse, balanced and policy-focused media environment.

Since the change of government in February, U.S. support to Ukraine has totaled nearly $300 million.

Later in the afternoon, Dr. Biden and First Lady of Ukraine Maryna Poroshenko visited wounded Ukrainian soldiers at Lesya Ukrainka Military Hospital in Kyiv.