Ban ‘deeply disturbed’ by reported attack on refugee convoy in eastern Ukraine
18 August 2014
Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon is deeply disturbed by today’s alarming reports regarding an attack on a column of
internally displaced persons (IDPs) attempting to leave the Luhansk region of eastern Ukraine.
“He urges all sides to respect the rules governing the status of IDPs and refugees and to allow safe passage to anyone
attempting to leave areas of active military operations,” Mr. Ban’s spokesperson, Stéphane Dujarric, told reporters in
New York.
“This tragic incident makes the urgency of a ceasefire and a diplomatic solution even more stark,” Mr. Dujarric added.
According to media reports, the Ukrainian military says many people, including women and children, died when rockets and
mortars hit vehicles during today’s attack.
The Secretary-General has repeatedly called for a peaceful resolution of the ongoing crisis in eastern Ukraine and
emphasized the need for progress in implementing the peace plan announced by President Petro Poroshenko in June that
involves proposals for decentralizing power, holding early elections, and creating a buffer zone on the
Ukrainian-Russian border.
Mr. Dujarric added that, in continuation of his good offices, Mr. Ban has asked Under-Secretary-General for Political
Affairs Jeffrey Feltman to return to the Ukrainian capital, Kiev, this week.
ENDS