UN aid reaches eastern UkraineUNITED NATIONS — The UN Refugee Agency (UNHCR) on Friday reported that aid convoys have reached conflict-affected populations in the non-government controlled area of Luhansk in eastern Ukraine, a UN spokesman told reporters here. In total, from mid-April 2014 to July 31, 2016, the UN human rights office has documented 31,690 casualties, including 9,553 killed and 22,137 injured in the conflict area in eastern Ukraine, including Ukrainian forces, civilians and members of the armed groups. Two separate convoys of 25 trucks each traveled with support from the World Food Programme and local partners to deliver supplies. The UNHCR estimates that some 10,000 houses in non-government controlled areas of Luhansk have been damaged as a result of the conflict. The average of 71 casualties for these two months was more than double the monthly average of 34 from September 2015 through May 2016.

Source: Manila Bulletin August 06, 2016 02:48 UTC