HIGHLIGHTS
The UN Under-Secretary General for Political Affairs appeals to all parties to the conflict to fully adhere to the ceasefire and ensure unhindered humanitarian access
The GoU announces revised entry and exit procedures to facilitate improved freedom of movement for civilians across contact line
To date, international donors have only funded $89 million of the $316 million requested under the revised 2015 Ukraine Humanitarian Response Plan
KEY DEVELOPMENTS
In early June, heavy fighting intensified between the Government of Ukraine (GoU) and separatist forces in several locations across the contact line—the border between GoUcontrolled territory and the non-government controlled areas (NGCAs). The fighting further restricted humanitarian access and resulted in additional civilian casualties and population displacement, according to the UN.
On June 11, U.S. Permanent Representative to the UN Ambassador Samantha Power traveled to Ukraine to meet with GoU officials to discuss the crisis, current response efforts, and humanitarian access obstacles. Ambassador Power encouraged the GoU to facilitate unhindered freedom of movement for both civilians and relief agencies, and ensure that emergency assistance reaches all people on either side of the contact line.
The GoU recently revised entry and exit procedures for civilians crossing the contact line into and out of government-controlled areas, ending the use of paper passes and establishing protocols that allow individuals who face a threat to life or health to cross without a permit.
As of June 12, the GoU Ministry of Social Policy had registered more than 1.3 million IDPs in Ukraine, representing an increase of approximately 48,100 IDPs since May 21, according to OCHA. In addition, the number of Ukrainians displaced to neighboring countries escalated to nearly 890,000 people as of June 12, an increase of approximately 11,500 people since late-May.
Access to safe drinking water remains a serious challenge in several areas along the contact line in Donetsk and Luhansk oblasts due to damaged water supply networks and water rationing implemented by local authorities, according to humanitarian reports. The UN Children’s Fund (UNICEF) estimates that up to 1 million civilians in both oblasts are at risk of running out of sufficient amounts of safe drinking water.
Ukraine conflict and population displacement (Last updated 06/25/15)