The Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) on Friday expressed concerns over the situation of displaced people in Ukraine as winter approaches.

Adrian Edwards, UNHCR spokesman, told journalists that fighting in the eastern part of Ukraine and the resulting breakdown of basic services "continues to drive more people from their homes."

Statistics from UNHCR showed that Ukraine's internally-displaced population is estimated at 430,000 people, some 170,000 more than at the start of September.

The UN refugee agency said about 95 percent of the displaced were from eastern Ukraine and concentrated in Donetsk, Kharkiv, Kiev and other cities.

Although the majority of the displaced people are staying in rented accommodation or with family and friends, at least 14,000 are currently living in collective centers.

Edwards stressed that with the onset of winter, one of the urgent priorities was to make sure that these centers are weather-proofed.

He noted that UNHCR was racing to help some of the most vulnerable displaced people cope with expected harsh winter conditions, providing warm blankets and winter clothes to those in greatest need, and additional humanitarian resources including reinforced tarpaulin sheets were on the way to be delivered.

UNHCR hoped that rapid implementation of a law, on the rights and freedoms of internally displaced people recently adopted by Ukraine authorities, "will help displaced people in finding safe shelter, jobs and proper access to services."

In addition, UNHCR said that more than 207,000 Ukrainians have applied for refugee status or temporary asylum in Russia since the beginning of this year, and another 180,000 Ukrainians have applied for other forms of legal stay in Russia.

Moreover, over 6,600 Ukrainians had requested asylum in European Union countries as of the end of September. Endit

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