OVERVIEW
The humanitarian situation along the contact line is of severe concern as parties to the conflict moved positions closer to one another and violence increased, including close to and at checkpoints, increasing the risk for civilians and aid workers operating in the area.
The Government announced the relocation of the Exit-Entry CheckPoints (EECPs) of Zaitseve and Novotroitske to Maiorsk and Berezove respectively, where there is no infrastructure (sanitation, potable water, first aid points, etc.). In addition, in Maiorsk, there is no space for facilities, and any work on bunkers for civilians may increase tensions, as ostensibly considered by belligerents as military engineering.
Summer temperatures and long queuing time further affect civilians as they continue to cross in high numbers to access their social benefits and pensions, markets, cash, basic services and visit relatives. Since the beginning of 2016, more than 3.7 million people, (or 600,000/month in average) crossed through the five poorly equipped operating checkpoints, whose capacity is overwhelmed.