Daily death toll rises in eastern Ukraine conflict
The estimated death toll in the Ukraine conflict nearly doubled to at least 2,086 as of August 10 from 1,129 on July 26, the United Nations human rights office said yesterday.
The estimated death toll in the Ukraine conflict nearly doubled to at least 2,086 as of August 10 from 1,129 on July 26, the United Nations human rights office said yesterday.
The figures came as a convoy of nearly 300 trucks carrying what Russia says is humanitarian aid for victims of fighting in eastern Ukraine continued its journey towards the border.
UN human rights spokeswoman Cecile Pouilly said of the latest death toll figures: "This corresponds to a clear escalating trend."
Nearly 5,000 have been wounded. The figures for casualties include Ukrainian soldiers, armed groups, pro-Russian militants and civilians, but are "very conservative estimates", Pouilly said.
"For instance, civilian casualties are likely to be under-reported, due to the continuing insecurity which prevents affected people from getting access to medical aid ... and because communication channels have been disrupted," she added.
Meanwhile, Ukraine denounced the dispatch of the Russian convoy as an act of Russian cynicism and said it would not be allowed in.
The comments reflected suspicions in Kiev and Western capitals that passage of the convoy into Ukraine could turn into a covert military action to help pro-Russian separatists now losing ground to government forces.
