U.N. Secretary General Ban Ki-moon has urged Ukrainian government forces and rebel fighters to respect a fragile ceasefire, following the death of a Swiss Red Cross worker in shelling in eastern Ukraine, reports GHN based on CNN.
The humanitarian worker, named by the International Committee of the Red Cross as 38-year-old Laurent DuPasquier, was killed when a shell landed near the ICRC building in Donetsk city.
Ban said he was "saddened and disturbed" to learn of the death, which came only a day after 10 civilians were killed in the shelling of a Donetsk school, according to the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe.
"The Secretary-General is seriously concerned over the dangerous surge in fighting in recent days and mounting civilian casualties," a statement from Ban's office said.
"These recent, tragic incidents underscore the fragility of the current ceasefire and the importance of ensuring a secure environment in south-eastern Ukraine that will allow humanitarian actors to carry out their work and deliver critical assistance to those most in need."
The ceasefire deal was agreed on September 5 in Minsk, Belarus, following talks between representatives of Ukraine's government, Russia and rebel leaders in eastern Ukraine. A subsequent agreement on September 19 in Minsk set out more measures.
Ban called for all sides to strictly adhere to their commitments under the deal and to redouble their efforts toward a lasting peace.
"A return to full-scale fighting could be catastrophic for Ukraine, the region and beyond," he warned.