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GENEVA / UKRAINE
STORY: GENEVA / UKRAINE
TRT: 2.29
SOURCE: UNTV CH
RESTRICTIONS: NONE
LANGUAGE: ENGLISH / NATS
DATELINE: 2 SEPTEMBER 2014, GENEVA, SWITZERLAND
1. Med shot, exterior, Palais des Nations
2. Wide shot, press room
3. SOUNDBITE (English) Adrian Edwards, Spokesman, UNHCR:
"Ongoing fighting in eastern Ukraine, in particular around Donetsk, Luhansk and neighbouring towns, is driving more people from their homes and increasing the need for humanitarian aid. The number of people displaced inside Ukraine has more than doubled in the past three weeks. As of 1 September UNHCR estimates that 260,000 people were displaced, compared to 117,000 as of 5 August. Most of the displaced – 94 per cent – are from eastern Ukraine and are remaining in the Donetsk, Kharkiv and Kyiv regions. UNHCR believes the actual number of people displaced is higher as many are staying with families and friends and choose not to register with the authorities."
4. Med shot, journalists
5. SOUNDBITE (English) Adrian Edwards, Spokesman, UNHCR:
"The number of those using the three "corridors" set-up by the Ukrainian authorities to flee conflict areas is decreasing, mainly due to recent incidents when civilians have lost their lives in attacks. Reportedly 6,000 people have left through these corridors since the end of July."
6. Med shot, journalists
7. SOUNDBITE (English) Adrian Edwards, Spokesman, UNHCR:
"After the Ukrainian government re-established control of various towns in the northern part of Donetsk region in early July, many internally displaced people quickly returned. We saw some 20,000 displaced people returned to Slovyansk from other areas of the Donetsk region. Local authorities in Slovyansk estimate that while some 40 per cent of the population was displaced at the peak of the hostilities, the vast majority most have returned home."
8. Med shot, journalists
9. SOUNDBITE (English) Vincent Cochetel, Director, UNHCR's Europe Bureau:
"In the case of Ukraine, we are concerned about the situation of 3,500 children that are staying in some of the 1,500 collective centres that are not fit for the winter. We were hoping to relocate them before the beginning of the school, the beginning of September. It has not happened. We need to make sure they are relocated before the winter comes in the middle of October"
10. Wide shot, press room
The UN Refugee Agency said the number of displaced inside Ukraine has nearly doubled in the past three weeks. As of 1 September, UNHCR estimates that 260,000 people were displaced compared to 117,000 on 5 August.
UNHCR spokesman Adrian Edwards told journalists today (2 Sept) in Geneva that most of the displaced are from Eastern Ukraine.
The refugee agency believes the actual number of displaced is even higher, as many are staying with family and friends and have not registered with the authorities.
UNHCR also noted a reduction in the number of people using the three "corridors" set-up by the Ukrainian authorities for people to flee conflict areas.
The agency attributed this to recent incidents in which civilians have been killed in attacks.
Six thousand people have reportedly left through the corridors since the end of July.
Edwards also said that after the Ukrainian government re-established control in various towns in the northern part of the Donetsk region in early July, most of the displaced people returned home.
Speaking at the same briefing, Vincent Cochetel, Director of UNHCR's Europe Bureau said the agency needed to re-locate 3,500 children staying in collective centres that are not fit for winter before winter comes in the middle of October.
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