Elizabeth Isakov. The number of missing because of the conflict in Ukraine may amount to several thousand people, said in an interview Last news the head of operations of the international Department of the red cross in the European Union And Central Asia Laurent Korba.

"at this stage we have over 300 requests from families. About 380. But the final total figures will be much higher. The story is about thousands of missing people, " he said.

according to his statement, the ICRC has long been engaged in the search for missing persons in times of conflict. And such programs have existed for many years.

"I'm afraid This is only the beginning of a very long work. I'm not saying That because of the peculiarities of Ukraine, and due to the nature of the topic - the missing citizens. This is one of the traditional activities of the ICRC. And We know that once we have it Vsplanet, it will last for most years. We are now doing this work in the Balkans, even 20 years after the end of the conflict ", - he said.

in late summer the authorized mission of the international Department of the red cross in Ukraine Ashot Astracan said about the fact that the red cross is currently looking for 380 Ukrainians, who are considered missing. The total number of missing persons during the conflict is over 1000 people.

The fighting in Eastern Ukraine began in mid-April 2014. According to the office of the high Commissioner of the United Nations on human rights, the death toll since the beginning of the confrontation in the country is 7962 man, wounded - 17811.

Speaking about the process of exchange of prisoners, Korb said about the readiness to assist in this process. According to his statement, the Committee also nourishes the hope of getting permission to visit prisoners of war, situated on the territory of the self-proclaimed Donetsk And Lugansk National republics.

"We wish to have access to prisoners, and to participate in the exchange of prisoners. If stakeholders are to believe, because It is useful, We to their services, " he said.

The full text of the interview is available on the Internet office of ria. EN 13. 00 MSK.

sections: Politics