United Nations: UN Under-Secretary-General for Humanitarian Affairs and Emergency Relief Coordinator Martin Griffiths has warned of dire consequences for the destruction of the Kakhovka hydroelectric power plant dam in southern Ukraine. According to a news agency report, Griffiths told an emergency meeting of the United Nations Security Council that the destruction of the dam is probably the biggest incident of damage to civilian infrastructure since the start of the Russia-Ukraine war in February 2022. He said that the magnitude of this devastation will be fully felt in the days to come. But it is already clear that it will have serious and far-reaching consequences for thousands of people in southern Ukraine.
He noted that the Kakhovka Reservoir, created by the dam, is the lifeline of the region and an important water source for millions of people, not only in Kherson, but also in Zaporizhia and Dnipro Oblasts. Griffiths said that the dam is a major source of agricultural irrigation in southern Kherson and the Crimean peninsula. Continued flooding will disrupt agricultural activities, harm livestock and fisheries, and bring about wider long-term consequences. This is a big blow to the food production sector which is already badly damaged.
“We are particularly concerned about the risks of mine and explosive ordnance contamination, as these munitions with water will reach areas that were previously thought to be safe,” he said. Thus people may be at further and unexpected risk. A dam breach could also have a negative impact on power generation. In addition, any uncontrolled decrease in the water level of the reservoir could negatively affect the safety of the Zaporizhia Nuclear Power Plant. The International Atomic Energy Agency is closely monitoring the situation. So far, no immediate danger has been reported.
Ukrainian officials have reported that at least 40 settlements in Kherson Oblast are already inundated. This number is expected to increase in the coming days. Griffiths said it is also expected to have a serious impact in areas controlled by Russia, where humanitarians are still struggling to gain access. The United Nations and humanitarian organizations have already stepped up campaigns to try to reverse the impact of the incident. He said an emergency response is underway to provide immediate assistance to over 16,000 affected people.
Griffiths said the UN had no access to independent information about the circumstances that led to the dam collapse. Nevertheless, international humanitarian law is very clear: installations with dangerous forces, such as dams, should receive special protection, as their destruction could cause serious harm to civilian populations. We are extremely concerned about the people in affected areas, where we are currently unable to reach, and we stand ready to move with inter-agency convoys and aid personnel to Russian-controlled areas at any time, he said. .
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