UN warns of risks of communicable diseases spread in occupied Donbas

Challenging humanitarian situation in the temporarily occupied territories of Donetsk and Luhansk regions causes a significant spread of communicable diseases.

Assistant Secretary-General for Humanitarian Affairs and Deputy Emergency Relief Coordinator, Ursula Mueller, stated this during her speech at the UN Security Council, an Ukrinform correspondent reported.

"Risks from communicable diseases are rising due to the water shortages, extensive damage to health facilities, lack of access to health care and extremely low immunization rates," Mueller said.

According to her, next year more than 3.5 million people in Ukraine will require humanitarian assistance and protection. "Yet, funding for humanitarian action has steadily decreased over the years. The 2018 Humanitarian Response Plan, which requires USD 187 million, is only 32 per cent funded. This is simply not enough. Without adequate funds, food, healthcare, water and sanitation, and other life-saving assistance cannot be provided,” the diplomat noted.

Given this, she appealed to the donors to increase their support for consolidating these humanitarian gains, especially with Ukraine’s harsh winter fast approaching.

As reported, an open meeting of the UN Security Council regarding the situation in eastern Ukraine was held in New York on Tuesday.

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