Ukraine's humanitarian crisis worsens as tens of thousands flee combat in east

(OP Note: Be sure to read the comments area, where there are people posting information, updates, and links, that are not getting coverage due to the media being restricted in Ukraine)


Ukraine's humanitarian crisis worsens as tens of thousands flee combat in east
Appalling conditions force exodus from Slavyansk as daily shelling disrupts food supply

Alec Luhn in Slavyansk
The Guardian, Thursday 12 June 2014 16.30 EDT


Slavyansk in eastern Ukraine has suffered daily shelling. Photograph: Daniel Mihailescu/AFP/Getty Images

Fighting between Ukrainian government troops and pro-Russian militia is fuelling a worsening humanitarian crisis in eastern Ukraine. Tens of thousands of people are fleeing combat, most of them from the rebel capital of Slavyansk, where almost daily shelling has claimed numerous civilian casualties since late May.

Most residents in the besieged city have been without water, electricity and gas for the past week. Food supplies are limited, and grocery stores smell of rotting food from the lack of refrigeration. Dozens of people queue for drinking water.

About 270 people have died in the east of the country since Kiev launched its "anti-terrorist operation" two months ago, Ukraine's health ministry said on Wednesday. Of those killed, 225 were in Donetsk region, including Slavyansk, where fighting has been heaviest. At least two children have died of shrapnel wounds in Slavyansk this month, according to the health ministry. However, past government estimates have been low, excluding deaths in rebel-held territory.

Appalling conditions in rebel-held towns have caused thousands to flee. The exodus from Slavyansk gathered pace when Ukrainian army shelling intensified at the end of May, with most residents going to the nearby city of Svyatogorsk were they are dependent on the goodwill of locals for housing and food. About 15,000 to 20,000 refugees from Slavyansk have arrived in the city since the end of May, according to mayor Alexander Dzyuba.

Continued
http://www.theguardian.com/world/2014/jun/12/ukraine-humanitarian-crisis-tens-of-thousands-flee