Over 60,000 Ukrainians staying in Russia’s Rostov Region – local official

(Interfax – Rostov-na-Donu, June 15, 2014) Over 109,000 residents of southeastern areas of Ukraine entered Rostov Region between 4 and 14 June in view of the difficult situation in Donbass [Donetsk Region], chief of the information policy directorate of the government of Rostov Region Sergey Tyurin has told Interfax South [news] agency.

“As of today, over 109,000 people have entered Rostov Region from southeastern areas of Ukraine, and just over 48,000 went back to Ukraine in that period. Altogether, about 61,000 residents of Ukraine who had to abandon their homes because of hostilities in southeast Ukraine remain in Rostov Region,” Tyurin said.

He said about 5,000 refugees have been placed in temporary accommodation centres, mainly in Rostov Region’s Neklinovskiy District. “Ukrainian citizens have been accommodated at rest homes and health camps, but it is those who had nowhere to stay or had no relatives. Most of those who arrived from southeastern regions of Ukraine stay with relatives and friends. Some have left for other parts of Russia, where they also have somewhere to stay with,” Tyurin said.

“As of today, the cost of providing vital facilities for citizens arriving from Ukraine is covered from the regional and municipal budgets of Rostov Region,” Tyurin said. [Passage omitted: he quoted regional governor Vasiliy Golubev saying R135m, or nearly 4m dollars, had been spent.]

He said that some of the Ukrainian citizens who had arrived in Rostov Region had been able to find employment either by themselves or with the help of the local authorities.