UN: Civilian deaths, injuries double in eastern Ukraine

GENEVA — Civilian deaths and injuries in war-hit eastern Ukraine more than doubled in the three months to mid-August, mostly due to shelling by heavy weapons, the UN human rights agency said yesterday, with almost two-thirds of the deaths occurring in rebel-held areas.

The Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights stopped short of attributing blame for the at least 105 deaths and 308 injuries of civilians from mid-May to mid-August, saying investigators' ability to conduct research was too limited. The figures were up from 60 civilians killed and 102 injured from February to April, it said.

The report said at least 7,962 people have died in the conflict since fighting broke out between government forces and pro-Russian rebels in April last year.

It noted a lack of large-scale offensives since a cease-fire was struck in Minsk, Belarus, in February, but said that exchanges of fire continue and pledges to pull back heavy weapons from the "contact line" have been only partially applied.

It estimated that 67 of the civilian deaths occurred in rebel-controlled areas between May and August, though it could not pin responsibility for them on any specific group.

The biggest cities and towns in eastern Ukraine, like Donetsk and Lugansk, are on the rebel side.

The report warned of more civilian suffering to come as the winter approaches.

Humanitarian shipments to rebel-held areas have been curtailed since July, for example, because of new rules imposed by the rebels that require aid groups to register before they can operate there. The UN is concerned that income has dropped by almost a quarter and 1.4 million Ukrainians are internally displaced or have become refugees.

Ukraine's government "is doing its best" when it comes to instituting constitutional reforms, rule of law and the administration of justice in line with UN norms, said Gianni Magazzeni, who heads OHCHR's branch for the Americas, Europe and Central Asia. The report faulted the government for cases of arbitrary detention — "often accompanied by torture and ill-treatment of detainees" — and blocking the delivery of cargo, including food and medicine, into rebel-held areas.

"All parties to the conflict are engaging in violations of international humanitarian law," he said. "It is terrible that civilians are so dramatically affected by this situation."