The UN High Commissioner for Human Rights, Volker Turk, has denounced that the attacks perpetrated by Russia on critical infrastructures in Ukraine leave millions of people in «situations of vulnerability», before a winter that he foresees of «extreme harshness».
Turk took stock of the situation in Ukraine, during a speech in which he recalled that ten million homes and businesses are suffering power cuts as a result of attacks that, if not stopped, «could lead to an even more serious deterioration of the humanitarian situation and cause more displacement».
«My message is that all parties involved in armed activities should respect international humanitarian law,» implored the High Commissioner, who lamented the «horrors» of a conflict that broke out in February and which, in the short term, shows no signs of a solution.
The UN estimates that more than 18 million people are in need of humanitarian aid, while the number of refugees exceeds 7.8 million and the number of internally displaced persons exceeds 6.5 million. In addition, 1.5 million children may suffer from mental health problems.
The office headed by Turk is aware of more than 6,700 civilian deaths since the invasion began and the High Commissioner explained this Thursday that only in the regions of Kiev, Chernobyl and Sumi 441 deaths have been confirmed – 28 of them children – until April 6, when some areas were already accessible after the withdrawal of Russian troops.
«The actual figures are likely to be much higher, as we are trying to corroborate another 198 deaths in these regions,» he said. In addition, the UN is also examining other cases in areas of Kharkov and Kherson that have recently been recaptured by Ukrainian troops.
WAR CRIMES The United Nations does consider it confirmed that the Russian military have executed civilians previously detained, as well as in public places or even homes. «Even when a victim had clearly demonstrated that he was not a threat, for example by raising his hands in the air,» the High Commissioner said.
Thus, there are «strong indications» that summary executions were perpetrated, which Turk said would amount to war crimes. He called for any possible abuses to be investigated and for those responsible to be brought to justice.
So far, however, «accountability is grossly inadequate.» The UN has been unable to confirm any case in which a member of the Russian Armed Forces has been prosecuted and even in Ukraine there is a lack of «resources and capacity» to carry out such investigations.
«The scars of war will be deep» and «accountability one of the remedies to heal the wounds of war,» Turk insisted in his speech.
