Russia-Ukraine War: UN Aid Chief Warns Of Nova Kakhovka Dam Disaster

• Concerns grow about ‘grave and far-reaching consequences’ in days ahead

United Nations (UN) Aid Chief, Martin Griffiths has informed the UN Security Council that flooding from Nova Kakhovka dam collapse will have ‘grave and far-reaching consequences’ as events unfold daily.

According to Griffiths; “The sheer magnitude of the catastrophe will only become fully realised in the coming days.”

“But it’s already clear that it will have grave and far-reaching consequences for thousands of people in southern Ukraine on both sides of the front line through the loss of homes, food, safe water, and livelihoods,” he added.

The warning comes as rescue workers on Tuesday attempted to tow boats carrying residents being evacuated from a flooded neighbourhood in Kherson, Ukraine.

Water levels in the city of Nova Kakhovka have begun to decline after the destruction of the nearby dam, the Russian-installed administration of the city said on the Telegram messaging app.

“The water level on the previously flooded streets of Nova Kakhovka began to subside,” the administration of the now Moscow-controlled city in occupied Ukraine said.

However, images released from the city have shown flooding submerging entire streets under water. The devastation to the region is likely to be severe and ongoing, even if it is confirmed that flood waters have begun to recede more than 24 hours after the dam collapsed.

Also, satellite images from Ukraine, provided by the Maxar Technologies company, have revealed the extent of the flooding in the country’s south.

The images show houses and buildings submerged in water, with many having only their roofs showing, and water taking over parks, land, and infrastructure.

Maxar said that their images covered more than 2,500 square km between Nova Kakhovka and the Dniprovska Gulf southwest of Kherson city on the Black Sea, giving some idea of the scale of the crisis. – With The Guardian reports