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UN special rapporteur on refugees to visit Ukraine

The envoy said he would talk with internally displaced persons and hear out their concerns and discuss long-term solutions

GENEVA, September 10. /ITAR-TASS/. U.N. Special Rapporteur on the human rights of internally displaced persons Chaloka Beyani will visit Ukraine in September to study the situation of people who have fled the conflict in the country’s south-eastern regions but who have not crossed its border, the U.N. said on Wednesday.

The visit will take place from September 16 to September 25.

Assessments of the current situation indicate that there is a critical situation with internally displaced person, Beyani said, adding that that his visit was a timely opportunity to foster dialogue with all key parties.

The envoy said he would talk with internally displaced persons and hear out their concerns and discuss long-term solutions.

During the trip to be made at the invitation of the Ukrainian government, Beyani will visit Kiev and refugee camps.

According to the U.N., 260,000 people have become internally displaced persons in Ukraine since the middle of April when violence erupted in eastern regions of the country, followed by armed clashes between government troops and militias.

The U.N. says the actual number may be bigger as many people prefer not to register as internally displaced persons fearing possible repressions upon return or conscription into the army.

Beyani also intends to have talks in the Ukrainian government, U.N. agencies and partner organisations, and meet with members of civil society.

He will speak about the results of this trip at a news conference in Kiev on September 25.

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Ukraine crisis Ukraine Eastern Ukraine

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