Ukraine: ICRC concerned by repeated attacks against civilian infrastructure in east

Kiev (ICRC) – Intensified shelling in eastern Ukraine is compounding the hardship of displaced and local people living in the vicinity of the line of contact. In particular, repairs to a gas pipeline which was damaged in the summer of 2014 are now being held up by security incidents in the Marinka area. On 31 March, for the second time in two weeks, technicians laying some 3,000 metres of underground pipe came under fire.

"Fortunately, no one was injured, but the shooting has already put two excavating machines out of action," said Raphael Tenaud, head of the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) office in Mariupol. It is very dangerous for the workers to continue the repairs. By law, civilians and civilian infrastructure must be spared in attacks.

More than 16,000 people in Marinka and Krasnohorivka have been without gas since summer 2014. The ICRC has been supporting efforts to restore the gas supply since last November.

"No gas means no heating and no cooking facilities for the inhabitants of Marinka and Krasnohorivka," explained Mr Tenaud. "But we are very concerned that these security incidents might endanger the staff working on the pipeline. Only 300 metres of pipe remain to be repaired. We hope that the security situation will improve very soon to enable the gas supply to be restored without further delay."

The latest resurgence of violence in recent weeks in eastern Ukraine also resulted in some destruction of civilian property. Under international humanitarian law, a distinction must be made between fighters and military targets on one hand, and civilians and civilian property on the other. Before and during attacks, therefore, the parties to the conflict must do their utmost to check that targets are indeed military objectives and to avoid, or at least minimize, incidental loss of civilian life, injury to civilians and damage to civilian objects.

For further information, please contact:
Matthias Weinreich, ICRC Kiev, tel : (+380) 067 509 42 06
Sanela Bajrambasic, ICRC Donetsk, tel : (+380) 50 315 04 60