Protracted conflict in east Ukraine continues to take toll on civilians

 In spite of a fragile ceasefire over the past month in the east of Ukraine, the protracted conflict continues to kill and wound civilians, and deprive the more than five million residents in areas directly affected by the violence of their basic human rights, a UN report stated on Wednesday.
While there has been an absence of large-scale offensive actions since the ceasefire was announced on 5 September, in some areas artillery, tank and small arms exchanges have continued on an almost daily basis, UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Zeid Ra'ad Al-Hussein said today as he released the latest report on human rights situation in the country.
From mid-April to 6 October, at least 3,660 people were killed and 8,756 wounded in eastern Ukraine, the UN Human Rights Office said today. Since the ceasefire began, between 6 September and 6 October, at least 331 fatalities were recorded, although some of the individuals may have been killed prior to the ceasefire, with the data only recorded later, the report added.
"While the ceasefire is a very welcome step towards ending the fighting in eastern Ukraine, I call on all parties to genuinely respect and uphold it, and to halt the attacks on civilians and civilian infrastructure once and for all," High Commissioner Zeid said.
Nearly 40,000 small and medium businesses in the Donetsk and Luhansk regions have ceased activity due to the fighting, leaving thousands without income, according to the report.
While some internally displaced people have returned home, data released by the State Emergency Service suggests that as of 2 October, there were 375,792 internally displaced people (IDPs) in Ukraine.
Those who have returned home face serious difficulties besides the volatile security situation, the report noted, with private property destroyed or damaged, as well as water shortages and limited access to healthcare. Expected gas shortages are particularly worrying, with winter coming and many IDPs living in ill-equipped temporary shelters.
The report of the 35-strong UN Human Rights Monitoring Mission in Ukraine, which covers the period from 18 August to 16 September, notes that between 24 August and 5 September, armed groups of the self-proclaimed 'Donetsk people's republic' and 'Luhansk people's republic' were bolstered by an increasing number of foreign fighters, including citizens believed to be from the Russian Federation.
Between 24 August and 5 September, there was also a sharp increase in detentions by the armed groups, and there were alarming reports of torture and ill-treatment of detainees, including mock executions and sexual violence. The report also notes reports of ill-treatment of those detained by Ukrainian armed forces and police.
High Commissioner Zeid stressed that all violations of international human rights law and international humanitarian law must be scrupulously investigated and prosecuted, including the indiscriminate shelling of civilians, killings, allegations of sexual violence, the illegal seizure of property and the ill-treatment of detainees. Zeid expressed deep concern about the lack of rule of law in the areas held by the armed groups.
In the Autonomous Republic of Crimea, the human rights situation continued to be marked by multiple and ongoing violations, the report notes, including the curtailment of the freedoms of expression, peaceful assembly, association, and of religion or belief, and increasing intimidation of Crimean Tatars under the pretext of combating extremism.