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UNICEF says 68 children killed in Donbas conflict

Since March 2014, at least 1.7 million children have been affected by the conflict in eastern Ukraine, the UNICEF press service said

KIEV, June 10. /TASS/. The United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) has reported about the death of 68 children during the hostilities in Donbas. Besides, 176 children have been wounded, according to the UNICEF data of May 1, 2015.

Since March 2014, at least 1.7 million children have been affected by the conflict in eastern Ukraine, including 161,358 children registered as internally displaced persons who were forced to leave their homes, the UNICEF press service said.

The Donetsk news agency said the authorities of the self-proclaimed Donetsk People’s Republic (DPR) were making attempts to put back on track the economic life in Donbas, with children as top priority, amid practically unstoppable shelling and Kiev’s social and economic blockade.

In particular, on Tuesday DPR leader’s chief of staff Maksim Leshchenko said that about 10,000 children are due to go on holiday to Russia - to the Stavropol and Rostov regions and to Crimea. Orphans, children from large families and talented children will be the first to receive resort treatment.

Besides, the DPR is repairing schools and kindergartens damaged by shelling, with around 500 educational establishments planned to be restored by late August.