UN agency ‘rushes’ aid to people affected by Ukraine dam destruction

By Beyza Binnur Donmez

GENEVA (AA) - The International Organization for Migration “rushes” aid to respond to the urgent needs of people affected by the destruction of the Kakhovka dam in southern Ukraine, the UN agency said.

In a statement, IOM said that it is bringing clean water supplies to areas receiving evacuated people and working with the Ukrainian government to assess what further assistance may be needed in the coming days and weeks.

Explosions at the Kakhovka hydropower plant caused floodwaters earlier Tuesday in the southern parts of the country near Kherson.

Both Russia and Ukraine accused each other of destroying the dam.

"This attack has put thousands of lives at risk, caused severe environmental damage and led to further serious strain on response services in a country already dealing with the humanitarian fallout of more than a year of war," IOM Director General Antonio Vitorino said.

Citing Ukrainian authorities, IOM said that more than 16,000 people are in the "critical zone" on the Ukrainian-controlled western bank of the Dnipro River following the destruction of the Kakhovka dam.

"Public infrastructure should never be a target," Vitorino urged and added: "Yet now, innocent civilians are not only living in a deadly flood zone but are set to face major shortages of clean water and critical energy supplies over the coming weeks, as the humanitarian situation in worsens."

The organization underlined that the destruction of dam also poses a safety concern as it is "both close to a nuclear power plant and the frontline."

The incident is expected to have an impact on the water supply to Crimea and other areas of Ukraine, as well as the cooling systems of the nearby Zaporizhzhia Nuclear Power Plant, it said.

IOM said it plans to expand water and sanitation support, distribute emergency items, support collective centers and provide health care, as well as distribution of cholera kits due to likelihood of waterborne diseases.