Over 260,000 internally displaced in Ukraine: UN agency

Geneva, Sep 16: Over 260,000 people in

are internally displaced, the UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) said on Tuesday.

According to its latest report, OCHA said an estimated 5.1 million people live in areas directly affected by the conflict.

It added over 360,000 people have fled eastern Ukraine to seek refuge in neighboring countries, the vast majority of whom have sought refuge in Russia.

OCHA spokesman Jens Laerke told a press conference that the ceasefire declared by all parties in Ukraine earlier this month has largely held, though isolated ceasefire violations have been reported daily.

He stressed the main concern is to ensure winter shelter and access to basic services for the displaced in eastern Ukraine, noting humanitarian access to conflict areas continued to be severely restricted for most agencies.

IANS