1.5 mln people in E. Ukraine face hunger (UN)

About 1.5 million people living in the conflict-affected areas in eastern Ukraine are facing hunger, among which 300,000 are experiencing severe food shortages, the United Nations food relief agency said here Tuesday.
 
"People living in the non-government controlled area of Lugansk and near the conflict line are the most affected by food insecurity," said a statement of the World Food Program (WFP).
 
According to the agency, a food crisis is looming as over half of the civilians living on both sides of the contact line experienced a complete loss or a significant reduction of income.
 
Trying to provide these people with cash assistance and food packages, the WFP is facing difficulties in distributing the aid, as access to some areas affected by the conflict is restricted, it said.
 
"We appeal to all parties of the conflict to facilitate full and unimpeded humanitarian access to people in need across the country," said Giancarlo Stopponi, the WFP representative in Ukraine.
 
The crisis in eastern Ukraine began in April 2014, when Kiev launched offensives against insurgents in a bid to retake the cities and towns they seized. The conflict has claimed more than 9,000 lives and wounded over 21,000 others.
 [Xinhua - globaltimes.cn]
  6/4/16