Ukraine’s Donetsk region bans MSF, UN agencies
The self-proclaimed Donetsk People’s Republic (DPR) says it has banned the medical aid group Doctors Without Borders (MSF) and several UN agencies from continuing their activities in the eastern Ukrainian region.
On Friday, a DPR representative, whose name was not released, confirmed to AFP “the decision to strip its (MSF’s) accreditation.”
The official noted that the move was triggered by some legal violations, adding, “We reserve the right not to divulge the reasons.”
The UN World Food Programme would also be affected by the measure as it did not have the necessary accreditation, according to the source.
However, the International Committee of the Red Cross and the Czech Republic’s People in Need would be allowed to go on with their operations in Donetsk.
Bart Janssens, MSF director of operations, described the DPR’s decision as “dramatic,” warning that it would have an impact on public health.
“We are extremely worried. MSF is the largest player in the region and now we will have to stop people's treatment,” Janssens said.
The development came almost one month after the self-proclaimed Lugansk People’s Republic (LPR) urged the Geneva-based MSF and nine other non-governmental relief groups to cease operations in the region.
Ukraine’s mainly Russian-speaking regions of Donetsk and Lugansk have been severely affected by fighting between the country’s army and the pro-Russia forces since April 2014, when Kiev launched a military crackdown there in an attempt to quell regional protests.
In November last year, Ukrainian President Petro Poroshenko also imposed an economic blockade on the eastern provinces, which led to the withdrawal of all state-funded health, educational and social protection organizations from the troubled areas.
At least 8,000 people have been killed and nearly 18,000 others wounded in the 18-month conflict in Ukraine’s east, according to the UN.
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