UN warns of chemical disaster risk in Donbas

11.03.2017 13:51

Ukrinform

UN Special Rapporteur on human rights and hazardous substances and wastes has warned that the armed conflict in eastern Ukraine could lead to a catastrophic chemical disaster unless the fighting is stopped and precautions are taken to secure industrial facilities in the area.

This is reported by the UN News Center.

“Battles are now being fought in cities, close to industrial centres, with factories increasingly becoming at risk of being hit: the consequences for anyone living close-by would be severe,” said Baskut Tuncak, the UN Special Rapporteur on human rights and hazardous substances and wastes.

According to him, on 24 February, a shell hit a building housing more than 7,000 kg of chlorine gas. While no damage was reported damage to just one fraction of the containers would have killed anyone within 200 meters and severely impact the health of anyone within 2.4 km, according to experts cited by OHCHR.

The Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs and humanitarian partners have called for demilitarizing the areas adjacent to civilian infrastructure.

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