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| UN human rights spokesman Rupert Colville addressing media [PHOTO: UNifeed] |
Geneva: United Nations says civilians in Ukraine continue to be badly affected by escalating hostilities and by new laws restricting movement in and out of areas controlled by armed groups.
Briefing journalists in Geneva, UN human rights spokesman Rupert Colville said increased fighting in recent weeks had taken the death toll over the 5,000 mark.
Between 13 and 21 January, 262 people were killed because of the hostilities, an average of 29 a day. Colville pointed to civilian deaths when an artillery shell hit a bus stopping for passengers yesterday, the second such incident in the last ten days.
“Civilians trapped in areas in the East controlled by armed groups were subject to a total lack of respect for human rights and the rule of law,” Colville said further.
He reminded all parties to the conflict that international humanitarian law prohibits the targeting of civilians and requires steps to ensure their safety and protection.
UN has also expressed concern about a recent decision restricting movement in and out of areas controlled by those groups and its effects on civilians, particularly older people, mothers with children and people with disabilities, who depend on social benefits. -UNifeed