This week was marked by several significant occasions.
The threat of spreading COVID-19 in the DPR is still at a high level. For today 959 registered and confirmed cases COVID-19 were fixed in the Republic, 641 patients are in treatment, 261 discharged from hospitals, 57 cases are fatal. For today all necessary measures are implemented to minimize consequences of the pandemic.
Another important problem for the Republic is the situation at the checkpoints between the DPR and Ukraine. The Republic continues to make an effort to open a humanitarian corridor, for the start of which only a confirmed written position from Ukraine is lacked. And furthermore, unacceptable time for passing inhabitants in the summer period (from 11:00 to 14:00), set by Ukraine on their territory can lead to victims among civilians. Only for 2019 on the checkpoints 27 cases of deceased were fixed because of queues in hot weather. Such terrifying statistic became possible as a result of unwillingness by the authorities of Ukraine to ensure permanent presence of emergency medical aid in at the checkpoints. To compare, 9 civilians died because of the armed conflict for the last year. Thus, at the checkpoints, civilians die three times more than because of shelling by the AFU.
It is necessary to understand that the Police of the DPR at first refer to security of civilians considering the issue about opening the borders, and also on an official interaction with Ukraine in the exercises, connected with the passes at the checkpoints. All actions in this case should be discussed by sides and carefully worked out. The threat of new and the most horror virus for the last 100 years is a danger for humanity, and it can be resisted only making a cooperative effort. The Republic doesn’t have right to risk people’s lives and health.
Citizens of the DPR, who understand the significance of implementing all necessary recommendations during the pandemic, also play a great role in maintaining stability in the situation with spreading COVID-19. However, donors, whose dedication saves dozens of lives every day, deserve a special mention. The Head of the DPR Denis Pushilin marked their merits. On 16 June the Head of the Republic declared the appreciation to 16 donors in a solemn setting. Many of those, who accepted congratulations, have been becoming a donor not one hundred times, whose seniority is counted in decades. It should be reminded that the modern methods of treatment COVID-19 use plasma with antibodies of people who were recovered from the coronavirus.
The Ombudsman continues attentively explore and monitor current situation in the Republic, also calls citizens for being careful and follow the essential sanitary-epidemiological norms.
Since the beginning of 2020, the Ombudsman received 2,549 complaints.
All received complaints can be divided into nine categories: personal rights – 1049 complaints, economic rights – 89 complaints, social rights – 341 complaints; guarantees of human rights in civil, administrative and criminal proceedings – 234 complaints; enforcement of human rights in penitentiary institutions – 61 complaints; enforcement of rights in the field of education – 4 complaints; enforcement of rights in the field of healthcare – 64 complaints; enforcement of rights of mothers, children and families – 20 complaints, issues connected with the political and military situation in DPR – 687 complaints.
- Death toll, injuries to civilians and soldiers as a result of hostilities in the territory of the Donetsk People`s Republic
The DPR Ombudsman’s Office documents cases of violations of Donbas citizens’ rights by the Ukrainian side, including the right to life, personal integrity and freedom of movement.
Last week there was no victims among civilians.
On 17 June a DPR serviceman died as a result of the artillery fire.
Within the period between 1 January and 19 June 2020, 66 people, including 39 DPR servicemen and 27 civilians (including 6 child and 8 women) sustained injuries and traumas of varying severities as a result of armed aggression by Ukraine.
Within the period between 13 and 19 June 2020, in the territory of the Donetsk People’s Republic 4 DPR servicemen died.
Within the period between 1 January and 19 June 2020, 26 DPR servicemen and 4 civilians died as a result of armed aggression by Ukraine.
To be specific, since the beginning of the armed conflict 4,927 people died, including 81 children.
Officially confirmed information on individuals, who have been wounded since the beginning of the conflict continues to be reported to the Ombudsman’s Office in the DPR.
- Register of the prisoners of war, missing soldiers andcivilians
During the reporting period the DPR Ombudsman’s Office received no statements of detention.
Based on the updated figures as of 12th June 2020, there are 115 people detained by the Ukrainian side. However, official representatives of Kiev declare that they either do not provide information about these people, or clarify information about them.
On 12 June 2020 465 people are considered missing. They could have been taken prisoner in Ukraine.
- Register of displaced persons and affected citizens
At the time of armed conflict, the civilian population living in the zone of fighting and near the contact line is often affected. With the view to protect the human right to life and security of the person, and to provide assistance to victims as a result of armed aggression by Ukraine, social housing objects (dormitories, preventative clinics, health care centers).
With the coming into force of the Order of the Head of the Donetsk People’s Republic No. 137 of 24.04.2018, Territorial commissions in cities and districts are now responsible for accommodating affected civilians. They work under supervision of the Republican Commission on Resettlement of Affected Persons chaired by the DPR Human Rights Ombudsman.
There are currently 915 accommodation places in the Donetsk People’s Republic available for citizens of this category. 63 social housing objects have been opened in the territory of DPR. 53 of them operate, 10 of them are held in reserve. Since the beginning of the conflict, 7033 people, including 1601 children have been registered as persons affected as a result of the conflict. Currently, 2119 people live in social housing objects of the Donetsk People’s Republic, including 378 underage children, 4914 people live in the housing fund, including 1223 children.