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WHO Ukraine Situation Report for April–June 2018

Countries
Ukraine
Sources
WHO
Publication date

Humanitarian situation – highlights

  • The security situation in the eastern conflict area has deteriorated* since April 2018, with the hottest spots being the Svitlodarsk arch, Kirovsk, Troitske–Krymske cluster, Dokuchayivsk, Horlivka–Zaitseve and the Avdiivka–Yasynuvata–former Donetsk airport triangle. 120 conflict-related injuries and 25 deaths have been recorded in the reporting period. Since the beginning of the conflict in April 2014, at least 2725 civilians have been killed; the OHCHR estimates the total number of conflict-related civilian injuries to be between 7000 and 9000.

  • Serious water, sanitation and hygiene (WASH) incidents** were documented within the reporting period. Critical water facilities came under fire with an average frequency of one incident every 48 hours in May and June. On 17 May, heavy shelling damaged the power lines of the Donetsk Filtration Station, cutting the supply of clean water for 345 000 people for six days.

  • Crossings through the five operational exit/entrance checkpoints were suspended four times due to intensive fighting, according to the OHCHR. In May 2018, a bridge collapse between Donetsk and Luhansk non-government controlled areas resulted in suspended movements for several days. Four people died while crossing checkpoints during the reporting period.

Summary of WHO’s activities and main concerns in April–June 2018

Activities

  • Supplying medicines and medical equipment:

– two trauma kits for the treatment of 200 people were delivered to the hospitals in Liman and Severodonetsk; – two interagency emergency health kits for serving 20 000 people for three months were supplied to Severodonetsk Hospital
– test systems for measles and rubella and laboratory supplies and reagents were delivered to the health facilities in Donetsk.

  • Improving infection prevention and control (IPC) in hospitals: WHO completed assessments in three hospitals and started an IPC project to train health-care workers. WHO is procuring and installing disinfection equipment in the adult and children’s hospitals in Lysychansk, Luhansk region to reduce preventable infections.

  • Conducting onsite needs assessments in seven health facilities: WHO conducted assessments in seven health facilities in Mariinka and Volnovakha rayons, and in the Mariupol area, within the joint United Nations area-based initiative. The objective of the assessments was to collect information on the availability of basic resources needed for the provision of health-care services.

  • Improving access to mental health services: during the reporting period, more than 30 patients with moderate to severe mental health disorders received support by the WHO-supported community mental health mobile team in Slavyansk, Donetsk region. The team consists of a psychiatrist, a psychologist, a nurse and a social worker, and operates under WHO technical guidance. The mobile team also cooperates with the local psychiatric hospital, primary health care units and social services in order to implement a patient-centred model of care to ensure continuous psychosocial support.