“Since 7 January this year, and in particular over the last few days, we have seen a dangerous intensification of the conflict,” Jeffrey Feltman, the UN Under-Secretary-General for Political Affairs told Council members today.
“The entire length of the ‘Contact Line’ has seen a serious escalation of hostilities, and there is still a risk of further deterioration of the situation,” added Mr. Feltman.
According to reports, there were more than 10,000 explosions in the Donetsk region over 24 hours, and heavy fighting has been reported near Mariupol, Popasna and the Svitlodarsk/Debaltseve areas, both in Government-controlled and non-government controlled areas, along with use of heavy weapons such as multiple-launch-rocket systems which are prohibited by the Minsk Agreements.
Furthermore, the UN Human Rights Monitoring Mission has recorded damage to civilian houses and a school in populated areas of Avdiivka, raising serious concerns about possible violations of international humanitarian law by all sides.
Since the start of the conflict, almost 10,000 people have been killed (Ukrainian armed forces, civilians and members of armed groups), and over 23,000. Over 2,000 of those killed were civilians.
Source:
http://www.un.org/apps/news/story.asp?NewsID=56099#.WJoCo_krIps
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German leader Angela Merkel urged Russia's Vladimir Putin in a telephone call on Tuesday to use his influence on separatists in eastern Ukraine to stop the violence there, and the two agreed on the need for new ceasefire efforts, a German government spokesman said.
http://www.reuters.com/article/us-russia-germany-ukraine-idUSKBN15M14Y
Thousands of children out of school as classrooms shelled in eastern Ukraine – UNICEF
7 February 2017 – With thousands of children forced out of school in eastern Ukraine due to last week's surge in fighting, the United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF) and its partners have strongly condemned the indiscriminate shelling of schools, and called for all sides to immediately recommit to the ceasefire signed in Minsk in August 2015.
http://www.un.org/apps/news/story.asp?NewsID=56118#.WJn7CvkrIps
Civilians face ‘dire’ situation amid ongoing hostilities in eastern Ukraine, UN warns
3 February 2017 – An immediate pause in fighting is needed in Ukraine to prevent more people dying and repair essential services, the United Nations human rights office said today following another night of shelling in the east of the country.
http://www.un.org/apps/news/story.asp?NewsID=56110#.WJoDdPkrIps
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NEWS NOTEBOOK
Teddy was right, there is no room or should no room in this nation for divided loyalties in this nation, it's either you become a full American, assimilate in our culture, and obey OUR laws, or get out!
Simple. Many today are going along with the flow of allowing those who never intend to be full fledged Americans, honor our flag, and obey our laws, in order to make themselves to look good
I say those who want to let these people in our nation, should invite them to stay in their homes, how would that work? Like Governor Inslee of Washington State, allowed people in the state who have no great respect for our nation or laws. He should invite these people to stay with him in the governor's mansion. See if that changes his song and dance folks.
