CRI听力:UN Warns for Worsening Humanitarian Situation in Eastern Ukraine

The United Nations is warning of an increase of the death toll in eastern Ukraine as government forces are fighting to retake the territory from the rebels.

CRI's Yu Yang has more.

Fresh fighting has erupted in the outskirts of Donetsk, where at least two civilians have been killed.

Kiev is pressing on an offensive into the east and has encircled the cities of Donetsk and Luhansk, two strong-holds of the armed rebels.

While the rebel forces have vowed to fight till the end, the conflict has put civilians in the region into a dire situation.

"We hear the bombs being launched, whistling past, and then dropping somewhere. The last one came down very close to us. As we were running, it fell just on our street."

"Restless days - basements, shelters and candles. Bombs and rockets - how much more can we take? Empty streets, cries of the dogs, meowing of cats that were left behind. Fear. Sad windows of destroyed houses, skeletons of burnt cars - I have no words."

In light of the humanitarian crisis, the UN Security Council has held an emergency meeting, called by Russia.

The conflict in eastern Ukraine since April has already killed 1,500 people, with 102,600 fleeing their homes.

But John Ging, a senior official from the UN humanitarian operations, warns that the situation is worsening.

"An estimated 3.9 million people live in areas directly affected by violence. Those remaining in the conflict zone face imminent security threats from fighting that is increasingly occurring in more densely populated urban areas. Fighting has caused significant damage to infrastructure, affecting the power and water supplies, and access to basic services."

At the UN meeting, Chinese envoy Liu Jieyi says an immediare ceasefire is important.

He calls for restraint from both sides, and a political solution that should balance the interest of all parties.

"The parties concerned should remain calm and restrained, increase dialogue and consultations on the basis of initiatives including the Geneva consensus, meet each other halfway, give full play to the role of the current dialogue and liaison mechanism, and seek a comprehensive settlement through peaceful means."

The Chinese envoy also says the international community should help to create favorable condition for peaceful talks.

For CRI, this is Yu Yang.