Responding to Dam Collapse and Flood Emergency in Southern Ukraine

The destruction of the Kakhovka Dam in southern Ukraine has propelled the region deeper into crisis—forcing thousands to flee the flooding and leaving many communities without access to clean water, electricity and medicine. Americares has been receiving requests for assistance from partner organizations in the affected area since the dam was destroyed on June 6.

“There is an urgent need for medicine, fuel, generators and clean water,” says Americares Ukraine Response Field Team Lead Jake Wheeler. “We are working tirelessly with our partner organizations in Ukraine to provide crucial support to those in need.”

A shipment of medicine and hygiene supplies, valued at more that $2 million, is currently en route to the region. In addition, Americares has provided more than $60,000 in emergency funding to four local organizations on the ground responding to the crisis. The funding will address  critical water, sanitation and hygiene needs:

• An Americares partner in the region will distribute portable water pumps to areas severely affected by the lack of clean water. The organization will also distribute Americares medicines and hygiene kits in the region.
• Americares support for Aqueducks, a volunteer organization, will facilitate the delivery of water to communities upstream of the dam, where the water table has fallen and city and village water systems are reportedly not working. Aqueducks will transport clean filtered water from safe sources to civilians in affected communities ensuring access to this essential resource.
• Americares partner MriyDiy is purchasing gastrointestinal, respiratory and cardiovascular medicines urgently requested by the Mykolaiv Department of Health.
• With Americares support, longtime partner Divchata will procure and distribute 400 custom hygiene kits in Kherson. These kits will play a vital role in safeguarding public health and hygiene amidst the ongoing crisis.

“The consequences of the destruction of the Kakhovka Dam have further exacerbated the immense challenges faced by people in the region, who were already grappling with the devastating effects of the war. We maintain round-the-clock communication with our partners in Ukraine, attentively listening to their requests and prioritizing immediate action to address what they think is the best course of action,” says Wheeler, who leads the Americares Ukraine response team based in Poland.

Americares has been responding the humanitarian crisis caused by the war in Ukraine for more than a year, meeting both the health needs in Ukraine and needs of those who have fled to neighboring countries. Since the war began in February 2022, Americares has provided more than $84 million in total aid, including more than 400 tons of medicine and supplies, emergency funding and technical support.

READ MORE about our work in Poland and Ukraine.