INTENSIFIED fighting in eastern Ukraine may lead to a “senseless repeat” of the suffering and bloodshed that engulfed the port city of Mariupol, an international refugee charity warned today.

Several areas of the region are already in ruins, the Norwegian Refugee Council (NRC) said in a statement, following a five-day visit to the country by general secretary Jan Egeland.

“The escalation of war in east Ukraine will result in horrific bloodshed and mass displacement from the eastern regions, including Luhansk and Donetsk, retraumatising communities who have already suffered eight years of hostilities,” Mr Egeland said.

“It’s heartbreaking to think about the horrors these people are forced to relive and to know that we are unable to get life-saving assistance into many affected areas. We call for an immediate ceasefire to stop this tidal wave of human suffering.”

The NRC also reiterated calls for full and unimpeded humanitarian access to all communities in Ukraine, as well as security for people wishing to flee the country.

“Humanitarian needs across Ukraine continue to skyrocket as the country marks two months of war on April 24,” the NRC said.

"One in four Ukrainians  have been forced to flee their homes in the fastest mass flight this century. Hundreds of thousands of people remain trapped in areas of active hostilities without access to food or water.

“Thousands have been killed in several parts of the country because of the use of explosive weapons in densely populated areas.

"NRC staff report that entire communities have experienced massive trauma, with children terrified of the slightest noise. Families lack everything from cancer medication to baby diapers [nappies]. Homes, hospitals and roads have been destroyed all over Ukraine.”

Meanwhile, United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights Michelle Bachelet called on all parties to respect human rights, saying that both sides have used weapons with indiscriminate effects, such as cluster bombs.

“Over these eight weeks, international humanitarian law has not merely been ignored but seemingly tossed aside,” Ms Bachelet said.

The UN Human Rights Monitoring Mission in Ukraine said that it had verified the deaths of 2,345 civilians, with another 2,919 wounded.

“We know the actual numbers are going to be much higher as the horrors inflicted in areas of intense fighting, such as Mariupol, come to light,” Ms Bachelet said.

“The scale of summary executions of civilians in areas previously occupied by Russian forces are also emerging.

“The preservation of evidence and decent treatment of mortal remains must be ensured, as well as psychological and other relief for victims and their relatives.”

Meanwhile, satellite images released by US space technology firm Maxar Technologies on Thursday appear to show evidence of mass graves near Mariupol.

The images were published just hours after Russian President Vladimir Putin claimed that his forces now control the city.

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