Kakhovka dam destruction and humanitarian missions: immediate response and next steps of Ukrainian charities

The Humanitarian Aid division of Serhiy Prytula Charity Foundation has started an urgent humanitarian mission to rescue people in Kherson oblast and help communities overcome the consequences of the Kakhovka Hydroelectric Power Plant dam destruction.

Within 3 days of the Kakhovka Hydroelectric Power Plant dam destruction, Ukrainian charity ‘Serhiy Prytula Charity Foundation’ received the list of needed equipment from Emergency Service teams in Kherson oblast, handled a fundraiser for the first batch and delivered it to the affected area. And this is just a beginning to help local communities minimize possible consequences from the resulting disaster.

Kateryna Viktorenkova, head of Prytula Foundation’s humanitarian aid division, explains: “The Humanitarian Aid Division has been in close cooperation with the de-occupied communities of the Kherson region since its liberation. This established contact allowed us to be one of first to know about urgent needs and provide a fast response. So when the dam destruction happened, we got a list of urgent needs from the local authorities within hours”.

The fundraising campaign for the mission in Kherson oblast was started on June 6 and will go on for as long as needed to help rescue all people and animals in the risk zone, and assist the communities restoration after the water level settles.

The first batch of equipment purchased thanks to urgent donations is already delivered.

The first needs list includes 10 inflatable motorboats for evacuation, 10 motor pumps with extensions and 2 car-based dredgers, amount of funds required is $191 000. The boats and pumps were delivered on June 8. Two car-based dredgers are underway, one is to arrive soon, one more is being purchased from Europe.

At the same time, Serhiy Prytula Charity Foundation’s partner organization Frida was providing people with emergency medical care during the evacuation of civilians from the flooded area. The Foundation supplies Frida's missions with medicines and medical equipment necessary for comprehensive assistance.

The second step of the humanitarian mission is to prepare for the next challenges after the water retreats.

Kateryna Viktorenkova continues: "Thanks to the quick mobilization of society and charitable organizations, communities received everything they needed to evacuate people and animals on the right-bank part of the Kherson region, which is under Ukraine's control. We are already processing requests from communities about eliminating the consequences of flooding: pollution of water bodies, risks of infectious diseases and infrastructure destruction.

To comprehensively understand the potential consequences, we communicate with ecologists, healthcare experts, emergency services, heads of communities and military-civil administrations. Among the following challenges are water supply issues, including water filtration, and prevention of infectious diseases in general. Kherson region also needs utility equipment, as the Russian troops, leaving the city, stole what was there. And residents will soon need the essential household appliances: refrigerators and washing machines. We have months and years ahead of us to overcome the consequences of the Russian terrorist act of blowing up the Kakhovka HPP, so we are asking for your support".

To support the Kherson communities rescue fundraiser by the Prytula Foundation follow the link: https://prytulafoundation.org/en/support-humanitarian-direction

"Since June 6, Kherson Regional Military Administration has been promptly responding to the needs of the people in the catastrophe zone. Local authorities and units of the State Emergency Service and National Police evacuate people affected by the dam destruction and coordinate charity organizations and volunteers on-site. We thank all participants for their humanity, quick response, and comprehensive cooperation.

We must emphasize that Kherson oblast and neighboring regions will need further assistance. In particular, we call on international organizations to help the residents of the left-bank part of the Kherson region, which is under Russian control. The Russian military not only did not evacuate the civilians from the flooded zone but also prevented Ukrainian volunteers and rescuers from evacuating people to the right bank of the Dnipro River. We need the international community's immediate and decisive response to this terrorist act and help to rescue people," the deputy head of Kherson RMA Olha Maliarchuk says.

Why we do this

On June 6, 2023, russia blew up the Kakhovka HPP in Kherson oblast causing a large-scale humanitarian and environmental disaster across southern Ukraine. Floodwaters have rapidly flooded settlements downstream from the dam.
The fundraising campaign takes place within the infrastructure restoration direction, pursuing the goal to assist administrations, municipal services, and the State Emergency Service of Ukraine in overcoming the consequences of Russia's terrorism.

About the Foundation

The Serhiy Prytula Charity Foundation is one of the biggest Ukrainian charities that works to support Ukrainian people in the rough times of russian invasion. It has hubs all across Ukraine to speed up the logistics.

The humanitarian aid division of the Foundation focuses on restoring safe and decent life conditions in the de-occupied and frontline communities including Kherson oblast. Active areas of the Humanitarian Aid Division of the Foundation include one-time missions to newly liberated/affected territories, mobile medical teams, and assistance to medical institutions in the de-occupied regions. There are also NEST prefabricated housing project, infrastructure restoration, and reconstruction of school shelters.

As of May 2023, the Humanitarian Aid Division of Prytula Foundation provided 175+ settlements in liberated territories and 160+ hospitals in Ukraine with $4.5+ million worth of humanitarian aid.

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