A Sich special volonteer battalion member holds his children on August 26, 2014 during an oath-taking and farewell ceremony in Kiev. (Xinhua/AFP)
KIEV, May 4 (Xinhua) -- About 200,000 school children in eastern Ukraine are forced to live and learn in the militarized environment due to the armed conflict that has been underway in the region since April 2014, the UN children's fund (UNICEF) said on Friday.
Children residing in the conflict-affected area face dangers due to unexploded ordnance and the proximity of military sites, such as bases, storage facilities and security checkpoints, the UNICEF said in a statement.
"For many children, frontlines are just meters from their homes, combat soldiers are seen throughout their towns, and armed guards are in their schools," the statement said.
More than four-year-old conflict has taken a devastating toll on the education system of the region, damaging or destroying more than 700 schools, it said.
The UNICEF has called on the conflicting parties to respect the international humanitarian law and ensure that schools are safe places for children to learn.
The conflict in eastern Ukraine started when the Ukrainian government launched a military operation against armed groups, who seized cities and towns in eastern Donbas region and declared independence from Kiev.
According to the Ukrainian authorities, the confrontation has claimed the lives of about 10,000 people, including 138 children.