UNITED NATIONS
The situation in eastern Ukraine could result in a wave of internally displaced persons, the UN assistant secretary general for human rights said Wednesday after a closed door meeting with the Security Council.
Ivan Simonovic, who just returned from Ukraine, delivered his second report to the Security Council on the human rights situation in the country torn by escalating tensions. He said many residents in the south-eastern part of Ukraine remained fearful of their safety.
The lack of registration of those people already displaced is of particular concern, Simonovic said. Some may have found refuge with friends and family but there are as yet no accurate records.
“According to our information there are about 8000 Crimean Tatars among those displaced persons,” Simonovic said. But official figures number only about 1,000 people, he said.
Simonovic said there are more people who are considering moving from the eastern part of the country because of the security risks. A lack of social services and a deteriorating local economy were also impacting decisions to leave.
People have various planned destinations, according to Simonovic, with some planning to go to other parts of the Ukraine, while others are seeking to leave the country.
Russians complain
Wednesday’s briefing to the UN Security Council included reports on the excessive use of force. The growing use of weapons, disappearances, arbitrary arrests and abductions in the south-east part of the country were also cause for concern, Simonovic said.
At a press conference in Kiev last Friday, Simonovic said human rights had been adversely impacted by the operations of armed units in the crisis.
Military operations in eastern Ukraine have now taken 127 lives, Simonovic said.
He also criticized the Ukrainian police who failed to avert clashes with demonstrators. A total of 48 people were reported to have died in clashes in Odessa on May 2.
The Russian Ambassador to the UN, Vitaly Churkin, complained about Simonovic’s report. Churkin accused Simonovic of not undertaking “independent and impartial investigations” of the Odessa events.
Simonovic last week in Kiev called on the Ukrainian authorities to investigate and hold responsible those that may be involved in the Odessa events earlier this month.
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