Humanitarian Situation in Donbas Worsens as Kiev Cuts Social Benefits

UNITED NATIONS (Sputnik) – Kiev authorities' cessation of social benefits in militia-controlled areas of eastern Ukraine has significantly worsened the humanitarian situation in the region, the UN's refugee agency said on Tuesday.

"UNHCR is extremely concerned about the worsening humanitarian situation in Eastern Ukraine… where the lack of access to benefits and services previously provided by the central authorities has drastically worsened the plight of the civilian population," William Spindler, spokesperson for UN High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR), said in briefing notes.

Conditions are particularly dire in northern Donetsk and Luhansk, where shelling and rocket attacks disrupted the supply of water and electricity, the agency said in a news release published on its website. Civilians casualties of heavy shelling continue to be reported in the region, the UNHCR added.

Overall, 1.1 million people have been internally displaced since the start of the military confrontation in eastern Ukraine last April, the UNHCR said. Over 670,000 people have fled the country, with more than 540,000 seeking asylum or other forms of legal stay in Russia.

In November, Kiev authorities suspended financing and shut down all government institutions in areas of eastern Ukraine that are under the control of independence supporters. The measure has cut government funding of pensions and social benefits to everyone in the region, leaving schools, health organizations and emergency services stranded.

In January, the UNHCR warned that these regulations are forcing vulnerable people to leave their homes and deepens the humanitarian suffering in the region.