Posted on 07 June 2023
On Tuesday, the Kakhovka Dam in the Khersonska Oblast region of Ukraine was destroyed. The dam was one of the largest water sources in South Ukraine, and it’s demolition has caused severe flooding, with António Guterres, UN Secretary-General, describing the event as a “monumental humanitarian, economic and ecological catastrophe.“
Guterres notes the widespread consequences including evacuations, environmental devastation, destruction of newly planted crops and threat to the Zaporizhzia nuclear power plant - Europe’s largest nuclear facility. "At least 16,000 people have already lost their homes - with safe and clean drinking water supplies at risk for many thousands more”, he says.
UN relief chief Martin Griffiths said the disaster will have “grave and far-reaching consequences for thousands of people in southern Ukraine, on both sides of the frontline, through the loss of homes, food, safe water and livelihoods.”