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Ukraine

Under-Secretary-General and Emergency Relief Coordinator Stephen O’Brien Statement on Ukraine [EN/RU/UK]

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(New York, 24 September 2015): I am alarmed by news that the de facto authorities in eastern Ukraine have ordered UN agencies in Luhansk to end operations and to leave the area by tomorrow, 25 September.

This follows the de facto authorities’ rejection of applications by UN agencies and all international NGOs working in Luhansk to work in the area. Several international NGOs have been informed that they must leave by 26 September.

I am also extremely concerned by the situation regarding accreditation and registration of international NGOs in Donetsk. A decision by the de facto authorities in Donetsk on the UN’s future operations remains on hold, and all UN agency operations have been suspended. The de facto authorities in Luhansk and Donetsk have an obligation to allow and facilitate unimpeded and rapid humanitarian access. Their continued failure in this regard constitutes a blatant violation of International Humanitarian Law.

The suspension of almost all humanitarian programmes in Luhansk and Donetsk since mid-July is putting lives at risk and preventing the most vulnerable, including children, women and the elderly, from accessing basic services. It is having a serious impact on some 3 million people as winter approaches.

Some 16,000 tons of humanitarian assistance, including food, shelter and non-food relief supplies cannot be delivered. Hospitals cannot perform surgery because they lack anaesthesia. Patients’ lives are at risk without essential medicines such as insulin and tuberculosis vaccines. Some 150,000 people are not receiving monthly food distributions, 1.3 million people’s access to water is at risk, and more than 30,000 people have not received shelter materials and household items they urgently need.

I call on the de facto authorities in both Luhansk and Donetsk to ensure the immediate resumption of UN and international NGO activities. Furthermore, I call on everyone with influence over the de facto authorities to use that influence to ensure the immediate resumption of humanitarian aid by UN agencies and international NGOs, and to win a commitment by the authorities to end interference in the provision of lifesaving assistance.

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