In the early hours of 6 June, an explosion destroyed a critical infrastructure in southern Ukraine – the Nova Kakhovka dam. The dam held back the amount of water equal to that of the Great Salt Lake in the USA. This vast amount of water was unleashed downstream along the Dnipro river, flooding dozens of settlements.
This disaster has put thousands of lives at risk, making the already dire conditions faced by Ukrainian people even worse. Entire villages have been swept away, the farmland has become unusable, and deadly mines are being washed up onto the shores.
The affected communities have been cut off water and electricity, leaving them completely dependent on humanitarian assistance.
The consequences of this disaster extend beyond human suffering, as there will likely be significant ecological devastation in years to come.
To address the crisis, the EU’s humanitarian partners are providing emergency assistance on the ground. They are delivering drinking water, ready-to-eat food, shelter equipment, and cash assistance.
In addition, the EU has mobilised material assistance via its Civil Protection Mechanism and rescEU strategic reserves. This assistance includes water pumps, tankers, boats, rescue vehicles, generators, and mobile water treatment stations.
The photos below offer a glimpse into the devastating aftermath of the Nova Kakhovka dam breach.
Story by Hanna-Kaisa Lepik, EU Civil Protection and Humanitarian Aid.
Photos by Alberto Lores on behalf of People in Need.
Publication date: 27/06/2023
