UN chief 'gravely concerned' as civilian death toll from Ukraine conflict continues to rise

In a statement issued by his spokesperson late on Wednesday evening, the Secretary-General said he was particularly distressed over the plight of civilians in the city of Debaltseve, situated along the conflict's frontline, where they remained trapped without basic services and under constant danger from indiscriminate shelling.

A recent uptick in fighting in eastern Ukraine between Government and anti-Government forces has seen casualty figures spike with 224 civilians killed and 545 wounded in the three weeks leading up to 1 February. According to the Office of the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR), the overall death toll now exceeds 5,358 people, with another 12,235 wounded since mid-April last year.

“The rebel offensive continues and civilians are dying on a daily basis,” the statement declared. “The signatories of the Minsk accords and the entire international community need to assume their responsibilities to ensure that this conflict ends. The United Nations stands ready to continue to support the consolidation of a sustainable and lasting peace process.”

The Secretary-General further condemned “in the strongest terms” continuing reports of indiscriminate shelling and called on both sides “to immediately move their military positions away from densely populated civilian areas.”

The civilian death toll from the fighting has been particularly high in the residential areas of both Government-controlled territory, such as the towns of Avdiivka, Debaltseve, Popasna and Shchastia and the settlement of Stanytsia Luhanska, as well as the cities of Donetsk and Horlivka controlled by the armed groups. In the single most deadly incident involving civilians, at least 31 people were killed and 112 wounded in Mariupol, following two attacks by multiple launch rocket systems.

In the statement, the spokesperson added that Ban stands with others in the international community in support of the proposal by the Chairperson-in-Office of the Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe (OSCE) for “a temporary truce that would allow for the immediate evacuation of civilians from Debaltseve” and notes that this proposal can only gain ground through “good-faith negotiation.”

At the same time, the Secretary-General reiterates his call for “a sustainable cease-fire to take hold and for urgent diplomatic and political action.”

The Ukrainian crisis began to unfurl in late February 2014 when it evolved from an initial internal political crisis into violent clashes in parts of the country. It later reached full- scale conflict in the east. Despite the Minsk cease-fire, the situation in Ukraine has since continuously deteriorated, with serious consequences for the country's unity, territorial integrity and stability. Recent media reports have suggested a potential worsening of the situation amid claims of a massive recruitment campaign by anti-Government groups.

Photo: UNHCR