OVERVIEW
The last months have been characterized by intense fighting in eastern Ukraine. OHCHR recorded 69 conflict-related civilian casualties in June (12 fatalities and 57 injuries), the highest number of civilian casualties in a single month since August 2015. The majority of the casualties (four fatalities and 37 injuries) were caused by shelling from various artillery systems, including calibers prohibited by the Minsk Agreement. Moreover, 19 casualties (5 killed and 14 injured) were caused by mines, explosive remnants of war and improvised explosive devices. Six civilians were injured by small arms including sniper fire across the ‘contact line’. Two small boys were killed by electrocution from a power line downed by shelling. Since the beginning of the conflict, 21,880 people were wounded and 9,470 killed, including up to 2,000 civilians among the fatalities figure. These estimates are, however, likely to be lower than the actual number of casualties resulting from the conflict.
As parties to the conflict move closer to one another, the risk of confrontations increase, to is the likelihood of additional humanitarian suffering and ensuing needs. Reports indicate additional damages to civilian infrastructure, including the important Sieverskyi Donets-Donbas water channel in Horlivka, the main water supply system in Donetsk oblast which serves people on both sides of the frontline. Shelling also damaged a decanter with hundreds of tons of manure near Bakhmut in GCA of Donetska oblast, which leaked into the local river, polluting the water and increasing the risk of water-related illnesses.
While some donations are yet to be recorded, funding of the HRP (23%) is critically low. Humanitarian partners are facing dilemma to cut essential activities. Critical shortage of funding triggered the closure of mobile clinics services, the only way for many civilians to access healthcare services. Closure of health partners’ activities may also affect remedial action of GBV survivors. Food security interventions are also under threat. Early recovery action is also compromised