KIEV, July 28 (RIA Novosti) – Kiev authorities agreed on Monday to allow a short-term deployment of UN human rights monitoring team to Ukraine following rapid deterioration of the humanitarian situation in the country amid the ongoing political crisis.
“Approve a draft agreement between the government of Ukraine and the UN Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights on a short-term deployment of a UN Human Rights Monitoring Mission in Ukraine,” a Ukrainian government decree said.
The Ukrainian Cabinet authorized Yuriy Klimenko, Ukraine’s permanent representative to the UN Office in Geneva, to sign the agreement.
Earlier on Monday, the Office of UN High Commissioner for Human Rights released a report on the situation in Ukraine covering the period of June 8 to July 15. The report said the number of civilian casualties in Donetsk and Luhansk regions is on the rise as both pro-Kiev forces and militia are using heavy weaponry, including artillery, tanks, rockets and missiles, in the clashes.
According to the report, more than 1,100 people have been killed in the Ukrainian conflict since mid-April and more than 100,000 others have fled the conflict zone.
As of July 15, at least 86,609 people had to flee the violence-torn regions, and this number is increasing, the report said.
UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Navi Pillay called on “all sides to bring to an end the rule of the gun and restore respect for the rule of law and human rights.”
