OSCE Chairperson-in-Office Dačić calls for resumption of international humanitarian operations in eastern Ukraine

NEW YORK, 1 October 2015 – OSCE Chairperson-in-Office and Serbia’s Foreign Minister Ivica Dačić today expressed deep concern at the continued suspension of almost all humanitarian programs in the Luhansk and Donetsk regions that can potentially lead to further aggravation of already alarming humanitarian situation in eastern Ukraine.  He called on all sides to adopt measures that would allow immediate resumption of activities by humanitarian organizations, and provide for the improvement of freedom of movement in eastern Ukraine.

With winter approaching, civilians, many of whom have starting returning home following the lull in ceasefire violations, will be the first to suffer from cold, damaged infrastructure and housing, scarce resources, and lack of public services. Support from international and humanitarian organizations will therefore be essential to ensure minimum living conditions for the civilian population, stressed Dačić.

Dačić recalled that humanitarian issues represent an important element of the Minsk Agreements and as such need to be addressed urgently in a constructive way. He commended the OSCE Special Monitoring Mission to Ukraine (SMM) for its work in facilitating dialogue and ceasefires at a local level in order to enable the repair of key infrastructure and access for humanitarian aid. 

Dačić commended the efforts of his Special Representative to Ukraine and the Trilateral Contact Group (TCG) Ambassador Sajdik and Coordinator of the TCG WG on humanitarian issues Ambassador Frisch aimed at resolving the issue of registration of UN and other humanitarian agencies, in order to resume providing humanitarian aid to the local population and the most vulnerable.