Millions at risk in 'forgotten' Ukraine crisis: Aid groups

BERLIN: The "forgotten" humanitarian crisis in conflict-torn eastern Ukraine threatens millions as harsh winter weather sets in, aid groups warned on Wednesday.
Action Against Hunger, Doctors of the World and other non-government groups called on the international community to help alleviate food, water and heating fuel shortages.
Peace talks "are stagnating and a political breakthrough in the near future seems unlikely," said the consortium ACCESS in a statement drafted at a Berlin conference.
They warned that humanitarian aid is underfunded and around four million people are "in a critical situation and urgently need help".
"Hundreds of thousands of people are at risk of being left with no access to water and heating in the cold winter months when temperatures reach negative 20°C," they said.
The conflict between pro-Russia rebels and Ukrainian troops has killed more than 10,000 people since 2014, when separatists in eastern Ukraine rebelled against Kiev and Russia annexed the Crimea peninsula.
Clashes continue despite the signing of peace accords in Minsk in 2015 and regular ceasefires, which both sides accuse each other of breaking.
"It is high time that all involved actors work together to find an actionable solution," the groups said in a message to the warring parties, humanitarian aid groups and the international community. — AFP