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Developments in eastern Ukraine

UN concerned about introduction of electronic pass system in Donbas

Introducing an electronic pass system would restrict the freedom of movement and make it harder for people to leave the war-torn regions of eastern Ukraine

© EPA/VAKHTANG BARKALYA

UNITED NATIONS, April 14. /TASS/. The United Nations has expressed concern over Ukrainian authorities’ plans to introduce an electronic pass system between Donbas regions controlled by Kiev and those controlled by the militia forces. Earlier, a list of thousands of people in line for obtaining such an electronic pass leaked on the Internet.

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According to a report issued on Monday by the Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA), the personal data of 6,000 people who applied for an electronic pass leaked online, sparking concerns about the security of those individuals and their relatives.

UN earlier said that introducing an electronic pass system would restrict the freedom of movement and make it harder for people to leave the war-torn regions of eastern Ukraine. The situation is also exacerbated by the fact that social services were halted in the self-proclaimed Donetsk and Luhansk People’s Republics, pensions and allowances are not paid there. People can only receive social payments on territories controlled by Kiev.

According to latest UN estimates, 6,100 people have died and 15,500 have been injured in Ukraine since the start of the conflict in Donbas. More than 5 million people need humanitarian aid.

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United Nations Eastern Ukraine

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