NEWSWATCH The Guardian: Fragile truce brings limited respite to war-weary people of eastern Ukraine: The population of eastern Ukraine faces a humanitarian crisis
[“Fragile truce brings limited respite to war-weary people of eastern Ukraine: The population of eastern Ukraine faces a humanitarian crisis with an acute lack of basic amenities and mental health problems taking a heavy toll” – The Guardian – Clár Ní Chonghaile -March 25, 2015]
The Guardian reports on the humanitarian impact of conflict in eastern Ukraine.
Just over a month after a fragile ceasefire came into effect in eastern Ukraine, a traumatised population is struggling with a lack of basic services, critical shortages in medical supplies and power outages, and the mental scars caused by the conflict.
At least 1.1 million people are displaced in the region, while a further 743,000 have left Ukraine because of the conflict between pro-Russia rebels and government forces. The UN estimates that more than 6,000 people have been killed.
Concerns mount over public health, mental health, and the need to protect basic human rights, including for large numbers of older civilians. A UN official calls the human rights situation grave.