International
0

Ukraine Death Toll Exceeds 5,000

Ukraine Death Toll Exceeds 5,000
Ukraine Death Toll Exceeds 5,000

The known death toll resulting from the conflict in Ukraine now exceeds 5,000 and may be far higher, the United Nations human rights office said Friday.

“The significant escalation of hostilities since January 13 has taken the toll to 5,086 individuals and we fear the real figure may be considerably higher,” UN human rights spokesman Rupert Colville told a news briefing in Geneva, Al-Jazeera reported.

The toll, based on official data on casualties collected by UN human rights monitors since April, includes 262 people killed in fighting between Ukrainian government forces and the rebels in the past nine days, “the most deadly period” since a cease-fire was declared on September 5, he said.

The truce did not take hold, with each side accusing the other of numerous violations. At least 10,948 people have been wounded in the escalations since April.

Moreover, The UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs announced in a report that Ukraine has more than 920,000 internally displaced people (IDP).

“Renewed fighting in the east of the country has resulted in additional displacement, civilian loss of life, destruction of infrastructure, all resulting in increasing humanitarian needs. As of 21 January, MoSP – the government entity officially in charge of IDP registration — has registered 921,640 IDPs across Ukraine, an increase of 47,878 since their last report on 14 January,” the report said.

  US to Train Ukrainians

The head of the US army in Europe, Lieutenant General Ben Hodges, told a press conference in Kiev that US troops are going to be deployed to western Ukraine to train the Ukrainian National Guard, according to media reports.

The training is set to take place at the Yavoriv Training Area near the city of L’viv, although the exact number of troops taking part is yet to be confirmed. A Pentagon spokesperson said the training is part of US State Department efforts “to assist Ukraine in strengthening its law enforcement capabilities, conduct internal defense, and maintain rule of law.”

 

Financialtribune.com