Surge in fighting in eastern Ukraine forces children out of school


Thousands of children have been forced out of schools in eastern Ukraine following last week's surge in fighting, humanitarian organisations in the country have confirmed.

The UN Children's Fund (UNICEF) and its partners have strongly condemned the indiscriminate shelling of schools and are calling for all sides to immediately recommit to the ceasefire signed in Minsk in August 2015.

More than 2,600 children from 13 schools in government-controlled eastern Ukraine have been affected by the escalation in fighting, along with hundreds more from schools in non-government controlled areas.

At least five schools and two kindergartens have been damaged by heavy shelling and 11 other schools have had to close, according to relief agencies supporting the emergency education response in the country.

They are urging all parties to the conflict to respect international humanitarian law and ensure that schools and other civilian infrastructure are never attacked.


SOURCE: UN Radio