Petro Poroshenko Orders Setting Up of Humanitarian Corridors

Ukrainian President Petro Poroshenko has ordered the creation of humanitarian corridors for civilians to flee areas of the east hit by conflict.

In a statement, quoted by BBC, the presidency said ministers had been ordered to set up "all necessary conditions for civilians who want to leave".

Violence between pro-Russia militants and Ukrainian forces has left more than 200 people dead, officials say.

The decision was taken after the recently elected Poroshenko had a meeting with the heads of the police and the army. The authorities must organize the transport of the civilians willing to leave the conflict zone and set up mobile points providing medical aid, food, water and medicines, reports the Ukrainian news agency UNIAN. 

The move to create corridors meets one of Russia's main demands.

On Monday Poroshenko vowed that the violence in the Donetsk and Luhansk region, which has been going on for weeks, must end by the end of this week.