The suffering inflicted on communities following the destruction of the Nova Kakhovka dam comes on top of months of repeated shelling and grinding conflict. The disaster is far from over and communities will need support in the weeks and months to come.
The International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) has teams on the ground in Kherson and Novoronsovka today. Our immediate focus is to make sure that people in Kherson and surrounding areas have clean drinking water. We are shipping equipment such as pipes, water tanks, pumps and repair kits to Kherson and the affected areas, as well as essential food and medical items. We are also assessing needs in local hospitals and a team of health, mental health and water specialists is on their way to Novoronsovka.
We are also providing support to help communities navigate the renewed risk of landmines and unexploded ordnance created by the floodwaters. This includes technical support to emergency services, as well as markers to signal that an area is contaminated with mines.
We are ready to respond on both sides of the river, notably from operational bases in Odesa and Donetsk, and we have reiterated our offer of emergency support to the authorities for people affected by the floods, as well as longer-term help to improve access to clean water. We are continuing to offer our support and request to bring critical aid to areas where we do not currently have the necessary authorization to operate.
