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Eastern Ukraine Braces for Bitter 6th Winter of Conflict

Lisa Schlein

   GENEVA, SWITZERLAND - The United Nations is urgently appealing for $52
   million to provide life-saving assistance to thousands of the most
   vulnerable people in eastern Ukraine to prepare for the harsh winter
   months ahead.

   Winter temperatures in Ukraine can dip between 15 and 20 degrees
   Celsius below zero. The U.N. reports the situation for thousands of
   people in the eastern break-away region of Ukraine is critical and will
   get worse as winter sets in in a couple of months.

   The [1]U.N. office for the coordination of humanitarian affairs, OCHA
   reports nearly 60 percent of the families living within five kilometers
   of the contact line are most vulnerable. This patch of land divides
   Ukraine between the government and Russian-backed separatist controlled
   areas in the east.

   OCHA spokesman, Jens Laerke said people living along the eastern side
   of this line have difficulty accessing essential services and
   humanitarian workers have difficulty providing for their needs. He said
   people in eastern Ukraine are aware of the situation and are doing
   their best to prepare for winter.

   "One elderly woman told our staff in Ukraine recently that 'summer is
   usually a time when one should enjoy time outside, but for me, it is a
   time when I must start saving from my meager pension, cutting my health
   and food expenses to be able to save up for coal for the winter.' That
   is the situation for millions of people," he said.

References

   1. https://www.unocha.org/ukraine/about-ocha-ukraine

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