UN May Be Forced to Cut Relief Aid to East Ukraine as Funding Dries Up

A new situation report says that the UN humanitarian division fears that lack of funding will significantly impact its ability to provide assistance to crisis-hit eastern Ukraine.

UNITED NATIONS (Sputnik) — The UN humanitarian division fears that lack of funding will significantly impact its ability to provide assistance to crisis-hit eastern Ukraine, a new situation report said.

"Delivery of humanitarian aid is expected to significantly decline in several critical Clusters as funding continues to remain seriously low," the report, issued on Monday, said.

The 7-page review by the UN's Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) indicates a severe shortage of funds amid rising humanitarian needs. OCHA said it has been given or pledged only 16 percent of the $316 million required for 2015.

The agency said it had met with "de-facto authorities Donetsk" to discuss ways to improve delivery of humanitarian aid to affected areas.

At least 6,083 people were reported killed and 15,397 were wounded in eastern Ukraine since the start of the conflict in mid-April 2014 and until 27 March 2015, the UN said. Some of these lives were lost to unexploded ordinance and mines that remain in the conflict zone.