MINSK, May 30 (Xinhua) -- Martin Sajdik, special representative of the Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe (OSCE), urged conflicting parties in Ukraine on Wednesday to pay special attention to the safety of children.

"I call on the parties to do everything possible to avoid civilian casualties, and pay special attention to the safety of children," Sajdik said following the Trilateral Contact Group (TCG) meeting in Minsk.

Compared with the beginning of the year, the number of civilian casualties has sharply increased over the past two months, especially the fact that there are children among the dead, he said.

Noting that this is absolutely unacceptable, Sajdik said that all parties are responsible for ensuring that the children in holidays are really safe. The TCG is a group of representatives from Ukraine, Russia and the OSCE that was formed to facilitate a diplomatic solution to the conflict in eastern Ukraine.