Support for Evacuees in Ukraine Following Dam Collapse
On June 6, an explosion in Kherson Oblast, southeastern Ukraine destroyed the dam at the Kakhovka hydroelectric power station on the Dnipro River. The destruction of the dam caused massive flooding and displaced tens of thousands of people living there. On June 26, Peace Winds worked with our local partner organization Right to Protection (R2P) to launch relief activities in Mykolaiv near the disaster zone.
R2P dispatched staff members to the site including social workers, and Peace Winds distributed sanitation kits to 1,000 people. On-site teams are visiting evacuation centers, conducting surveys to identify those most in need, and distributing emergency supplies. If necessary, mental health professionals will also visit the evacuation centers to provide counseling to residents. At this stage, Peace Winds plans to continue relief activities for the next three weeks.
Last week, prior to arriving in the disaster area, response teams participated in hostile environment awareness training (HEAT training) in Kyiv. The training helps disaster response workers know how to avoid and handle crises when working in dangerous areas. This is especially important in Ukraine where certain areas in the south and east remain under Russian control.
Response workers in Ukraine speak to evacuees
Unfortunately, the damage caused by the explosion and destruction of the dam is not limited to flooding. According to the United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA), there is concern about potential accidents that could result from a decrease in the supply of cooling water to nuclear power plants. Additionally, decreases in water for agriculture, an important sector in southern Kherson Oblast and the Crimean Peninsula, are expected to have long-term adverse effects on food production.
Peace Winds will continue to support Ukrainians affected by this disaster, and we look forward to bringing updates as we are able. We thank you for your continued support.