New York, United Nations. The latest word on the brave people of Donbass is hold on. As they are bombed daily, shot at and cut off from outside support, comes a UN report that a terrible crisis is happening in the Donbass, thanks to western cooperation in Kiev’s genocide upon it’s own citizens.
The UN OHCHR Office in Ukraine reports an increased risk of spread of epidemic diseases in the war-torn Donbass; almost 1.3 million local civilians are on the brink of in the humanitarian crisis.
The Donbass region broke away from the Kiev US-backed government in 2014 and have been in a state of civil war ever since. Recently the region has started on the road to integration with Russia. The UN estimates of human lives loss is near 10,000 but experts locally point to German intelligence reports, that local officials quietly echo, that show over 100,000 people have died in the war.
‘With no immediate ending in sight, the conflict continues to exacerbate the daily lives of thousands of people living on both sides of the ‘contact line’, deepening their dependence on external aid, and flattening hopes for a normal life. The trend of increased civilian casualties continues, the report says.
The UN insists that thousands of people find themselves on the edge of a large-scale humanitarian crisis. ‘Disruptions of water, energy and gas have affected over 1.3 million people living on both sides of the ‘contact line’, as shelling hit facilities (including Donetsk and Gorlovka Filer Stations, and South Donbass and Voda Donbasa water stations), gas pipelines, and electricity lines.
As far as repair goes, it is at varying stages, due to a lack of access and security (fighting, mines, UXOs), at times, disruption of energy and particularly water supply have lasted more than 24 hours. Some of the critically affected areas by these multiple energy and water infrastructure incidents include Avdiivka, Mariupol, Popasna and Zolote (government-controlled area), Donetsk, Stakhanov, Spartak, Verkhnotoretske and Yasynuvata,’ the paper said.
‘In addition to exposure to constant shelling and damages, major energy and water supply systems are close to financial collapse. Utility companies in GCA and NGCA continue to struggle for solutions to financial and political issues at the expense of ordinary people. Such complex of energy/water-related issues have immediate and longer term impact, and significant humanitarian consequences.
Lack of agreement to resolve the ongoing financial and bureaucratic bottlenecks put some 400,000 to 600,000 people on both sides of the ‘contact line’ at high risk not only of cuts, but of increased exposure to water-borne diseases outbreaks as well. With the temperatures on the rise towards summer season, the risk of water-related disease is expected to increase, with high likelihood for outbreaks of diarrhoea, cholera or hepatitis.
Vulnerable, elderly and disabled people living in multistorey buildings will face difficulties accessing water. Schools, elderly houses and hospitals may suffer water shortages,’ the UN OHCHR report says.
Recent trends though offer hope. There have now been two meetings of the Donbass Integration with Russia Committe. Experts agree, it is only a matter of time before Donbass joins the Russian Federation, along the same lines as Crimea has done. Until the cavalry comes to the rescue, all eyes are on Donbass as they ride out the storm of Kiev aggression.