U.N. estimates 423 killed in Ukraine's east

6/24/2014
ASSOCIATED PRESS

UNITED NATIONS  — The United Nations estimates that 423 people have been killed between April 15 and June 20 in eastern Ukraine where the situation is rapidly deteriorating.

Assistant Secretary-General for Human Rights Ivan Simonovic told the U.N. Security Council today that the estimate of deaths, both military and civilian, is based on information gathered from official sources.

Simonovic said that over the past two weeks the number of Ukrainians who have fled their homes has doubled, with 15,200 moving within the eastern Donetsk and Luhansk regions.

As of June 23, the U.N. refugee agency has identified more than 46,100 internally displaced people — 11,500 from Crimea and nearly 34,600 from the east, he said.

Simonovic said Ukrainians are leaving due to fear, the worsening economy and eroding social rights.