GENEVA / OCHA UKRAINE

A protracted conflict in eastern Ukraine, in which more than 14,000 people are estimated to have been killed since violence first broke out in 2014, appears to be finally subsiding, according to the UN’s Office for Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA). UNTV CH

• Categories: News & Features / News Stories / Unifeed
• Video Length: 00:01:09
• Production Date: 18 September 2020
• Asset Language: English
• Corporate Name: OFFICE FOR THE COORDINATION OF HUMANITARIAN AFFAIRS - OCHA
• Subject Topical: HUMANITARIAN RELIEF
• Geographic Subject: UKRAINE
• MAMS Id: 2559272
• Parent Id: 2559272
• Alternate Title: unifeed200918i

Description

STORY: GENEVA / OCHA UKRAINE
TRT: 1:09
SOURCE: UNTV CH
RESTRICTIONS: NONE
LANGUAGE: ENGLISH / NATS

DATELINE: 18 SEPTEMBER 2020, GENEVA, SWITZERLAND

Shotlist

18 SEPTEMBER 2020, GENEVA, SWITZERLAND

1. Wide shot, Palais des Nations exterior
2. Wide shot, Laerke at dais in near-empty Room XIV in line with COVID-19 distancing measures
3. SOUNDBITE (English) Jens Laerke, spokesperson, Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs, (OCHA):
“In Eastern Ukraine, the ceasefire that came into force on 27 July has now contributed to the longest period of relative calm since the beginning of the conflict in 2014. This reduction in hostilities has meant that 53 per cent drop in security incidents month to month between July and August, and then even larger reduction in civilian casualties.”
4. Med shot, journalist wearing masks
5. SOUNDBITE (English) Jens Laerke, spokesperson, Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs, (OCHA):
“Our colleagues in Ukraine tell us that this improvement has given people on both sides of the contact line that divides Eastern Ukraine a sense of normality and people hope that it will become sustainable. But they also report that as of now, they have not observed changes in terms of humanitarian access that could lead to a scaling up of humanitarian work, and that is largely due to restrictions imposed in response to COVID-19.”
6. Close up, journalist taking notes
7. Wide shot, Laerke at dais
8. Med shot, journalist and UN staff member

Storyline

A protracted conflict in eastern Ukraine, in which more than 14,000 people are estimated to have been killed since violence first broke out in 2014, appears to be finally subsiding, according to the UN’s Office for Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA).

The “longest period of relative calm” in the region has come as direct result of a ceasefire in late July of this year, OCHA spokesperson Jens Laerke said on Friday.

Speaking to reporters in Geneva, Laerke said, this improvement has given people on both sides of the contact line that divides Eastern Ukraine “a sense of normality and people hope that it will become sustainable.” He added that reported security incidents have dropped by more than half since the ceasefire - from 533 in July to 251 in August.

The improvement in the security situation has not yet led to improved access for those in need of humanitarian aid, however, owing to COVID-19. UN humanitarian partners in the region “have not observed changes in terms of humanitarian access that could lead to a scaling up of humanitarian work and that is largely due to restrictions imposed in response to COVID-19,” Laerke said.