U.S. to give extra $50 mln to Moldova amid refugee influx from Ukraine

CHISINAU. Apr 4 (Interfax) - The United States will add $50 million to the $20-million assistance promised to Moldova earlier to help deal with the crisis caused by the influx of Ukrainian refugees, U.S. Ambassador to the United Nations Linda Thomas-Greenfield said at a joint press conference with Moldovan Prime Minister Natalia Gavrilita.

She said the United States would provide Moldova with $50-million assistance to help deal with the crisis in addition to the $20-million aid promised earlier, which had begun to reach Moldova.

Thomas-Greenfield paid a one-day visit to Moldova on Sunday.

"The influx of refugees have recently subsided. Yet we realize the need for reserves. We have discussed the establishment of transit green corridors with other countries so that refugees could go straight to European nations," Gavrilita said.

More than 390,000 people have arrived in Moldova from Ukraine since February 24, Gavrilita said. "Out of that number, almost 100,000 people, including 48,000 children, are staying in the territory of Moldova," she said.

Given the Ukraine situation, the Moldovan parliament declared a 60-day state of emergency since February 24.