This article is from the source 'bbc' and was first published or seen on . It last changed over 40 days ago and won't be checked again for changes.
You can find the current article at its original source at http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-europe-34355394
The article has changed 6 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.
| Version 2 | Version 3 |
|---|---|
| Ukraine crisis: Rebels order UN agencies to leave | Ukraine crisis: Rebels order UN agencies to leave |
| (about 2 hours later) | |
| The UN humanitarian aid chief has expressed alarm after UN agencies were ordered out of rebel-held parts of the Luhansk region in eastern Ukraine. | The UN humanitarian aid chief has expressed alarm after UN agencies were ordered out of rebel-held parts of the Luhansk region in eastern Ukraine. |
| Stephen O'Brien said the agencies had been told to leave by Friday, and several international non-governmental organisations (NGO) by Saturday. | Stephen O'Brien said the agencies had been told to leave by Friday, and several international non-governmental organisations (NGO) by Saturday. |
| The Luhansk separatists had earlier banned 10 international humanitarian agencies citing "violations". | The Luhansk separatists had earlier banned 10 international humanitarian agencies citing "violations". |
| Pro-Russian rebels seized parts of the Luhansk and Donetsk regions last year. | Pro-Russian rebels seized parts of the Luhansk and Donetsk regions last year. |
| Almost 8,000 people have been killed since fighting erupted in eastern Ukraine in April 2014, a month after Russia annexed the southern Crimea peninsula. | Almost 8,000 people have been killed since fighting erupted in eastern Ukraine in April 2014, a month after Russia annexed the southern Crimea peninsula. |
| 'Psychotropic medication' | 'Psychotropic medication' |
| In a statement, Mr O'Brien said the "de facto authorities" in Luhansk had ordered the UN agencies and NGOs to leave the area. | In a statement, Mr O'Brien said the "de facto authorities" in Luhansk had ordered the UN agencies and NGOs to leave the area. |
| He also said all UN agency operations had been suspended in the rebel-held parts of Donetsk. | He also said all UN agency operations had been suspended in the rebel-held parts of Donetsk. |
| Mr O'Brien urged the separatists in "both Luhansk and Donetsk to ensure the immediate resumption of UN and international NGO activities". | Mr O'Brien urged the separatists in "both Luhansk and Donetsk to ensure the immediate resumption of UN and international NGO activities". |
| He warned that restrictions on humanitarian shipments had prevented delivery of some 16,000 tons of vital supplies. | He warned that restrictions on humanitarian shipments had prevented delivery of some 16,000 tons of vital supplies. |
| "Hospitals cannot perform surgery because they lack anaesthesia. Some 150,000 people are not receiving monthly food distributions," Mr O'Brien said. | "Hospitals cannot perform surgery because they lack anaesthesia. Some 150,000 people are not receiving monthly food distributions," Mr O'Brien said. |
| On Thursday the Luhansk rebels refused to register 10 out of 11 foreign NGOs because of "violations". | On Thursday the Luhansk rebels refused to register 10 out of 11 foreign NGOs because of "violations". |
| They accused one of the banned NGOs - Doctors Without Borders - of "illegally storing psychotropic medication". | They accused one of the banned NGOs - Doctors Without Borders - of "illegally storing psychotropic medication". |
| The NGO denies the allegation. | The NGO denies the allegation. |
| Ukraine and the West accuse Russia of arming the separatists and also sending its regular troops in eastern Ukraine. | Ukraine and the West accuse Russia of arming the separatists and also sending its regular troops in eastern Ukraine. |
| Moscow denies this, but admits that Russian "volunteers" fight alongside the rebels. | Moscow denies this, but admits that Russian "volunteers" fight alongside the rebels. |
| The EU and the US have imposed their own sanctions against Russian officials and top allies of President Vladimir Putin. | The EU and the US have imposed their own sanctions against Russian officials and top allies of President Vladimir Putin. |
| A ceasefire in eastern Ukraine has been holding in the past two weeks, although there have been reports of occasional shelling. | A ceasefire in eastern Ukraine has been holding in the past two weeks, although there have been reports of occasional shelling. |