AMNESTY INTERNATIONAL HAS TOLD REUTERS that Eastern Ukraine is nearing a human catastrophe. They say that of the 5.2 million people in Ukraine are living in conflict zones, 1.4 million are in very vulnerable conditions. “Aid sent to southeastern Ukraine from Russia and other countries – such as food and medicine – is often stifled by pro-Kiev private armies that are preventing it from reaching those in need, with the goal of starving the population there. The fighting in Ukraine started in Donetsk and Lugansk regions refused to recognize the coup-imposed authorities in Kiev, which formed a Western-backed interim government at the time.” AMNESTY INTERNATIONAL said that a total of US$32.4 million is need for warm clothes, shelter, hygiene supplies and medicine if the children are to survive through the winter. “UN humanitarian chief Valerie Amos told RT, recalling a situation with a Russian aid convoy last summer. that since then, aid convoys have been sent by Russia, Kiev, and Germany, carrying supplies such as cereals, canned foods, generators, medicine, warm clothes, and bottled water. Eastern Ukraine is nearing a humanitarian catastrophe, as residents struggle to get food and medicine, rights group Amnesty International told Reuters. The UN refugee watchdog added that the elderly in the region could be severely hit by Kiev’s policies. People in the southeastern Lugansk and Donetsk regions are struggling financially and are barely scraping by, according to the deputy director of Europe and Central Asia at Amnesty International, Denis Krivosheev. “While it may be too early to call this a humanitarian catastrophe, it’s clearly progressing in that direction,” Krivosheev said, adding that pensioners are the most vulnerable part of the population. According to UN figures, around 5.2 million people in Ukraine are living in conflict zones. Of that number, 1.4 million are in very vulnerable conditions and require assistance as they struggle with the cold winter, money problems, and lack of services. Moreover, Krivosheev stressed that aid sent to southeastern Ukraine from Russia and other countries – such as food and medicine – is often stifled by pro-Kiev private armies that are preventing it from reaching those in need, with the goal of starving the population there. “Attempting to create unbearable conditions of life is a whole new ballgame...using starvation of civilians as a method of warfare is a war crime,” Krivosheev said. He described the private armies as “renegade gangs” which need to be handled. The fighting in Ukraine began in April, after the southeastern Donetsk and Lugansk regions refused to recognize the coup-imposed authorities in Kiev, which formed a Western-backed interim government at the time. The death toll has exceeded 4,700 people, with over 10,300 wounded, according to the latest UN estimations. The situation on the ground then worsened, with non-stop bombing taking place in the southeastern regions, including residential areas. On top of that, things were exacerbated by Kiev’s tactics to periodically turn off water and electricity supplies to the areas not controlled by the government. A total of US$32.4 million is needed to help children survive through the winter, the report concludes. The most needed items are warm clothes, shelter, hygiene supplies, and medicine. One of the biggest obstacles to improving conditions is the politicization of aid convoys, UN humanitarian chief Valerie Amos told RT, recalling a situation with a Russian aid convoy last summer. Since then, aid convoys have been sent by Russia, Kiev, and Germany, carrying supplies such as cereals, canned foods, generators, medicine, warm clothes, and bottled water. Specifically, 54 percent of respondents said they would deny help to refugees, believing it to be the country’s responsibility and not their own. Only 16.8 percent of the respondents said they think the conflict should be solved through peaceful talks. rt/news/221019-ukraine-humanitarian-catastrophe-amnesty/
Posted on: Sat, 10 Jan 2015 03:14:05 +0000