Humanitarian support following the Kakhovka dam explosion
UN boats provided vital water and food to support around 500 families in a small village near Kherson, approximately 15 kilometres from the front line. The operation, which took place on 16 June 2023, was coordinated by OCHA and WFP, with funding from the NGO Angels of Salvation and supplies provided by UNICEF and WPF.
The explosion of the Kakhovka dam in June 2023 triggered a flood that hit southern Ukraine hard. Homes were destroyed, lives were lost and the lack of access to clean water resulted in an urgent need for international aid. Norway was quick to respond, through the Nansen programme.
The Kakhovka dam, on the Dnipro river, was crucial for hydropower, artificial irrigation and cooling of Europe’s largest nuclear power plant, the Zaporizhzhia power plant. On 24 February 2022, the dam was occupied by Russian forces. On 6 June 2023, while the region remained under Russian control, a large part of the dam was destroyed in an explosion. The parties still disagree about who was responsible for the explosion. The resulting flood took several lives, destroyed homes and left nearly one million people without access to clean water. The UN estimates that the rebuild costs will exceed USD 5 billion.
Norway, represented by erstwhile Foreign Minister Anniken Huitfeldt, expressed immediate concern and contributed humanitarian aid through the Nansen programme. The programme gave NOK 150 million in direct funding to the UN and Red Cross. This funding helped the Ukrainian authorities and local voluntary organisations manage the crisis.
In June, the UN transported 20 convoys carrying supplies to the affected population. The UN and humanitarian organisations contributed, among other things:
- 20 million litres of drinking water for residents.
- Support for 70 local water companies, ensuring a water supply for many more people.
- Drilling wells and delivering pumps and water purification systems.
- Cash support for nearly 40,000 people, allowing them to meet their most urgent needs.
- More than 200,000 food rations, ensuring that those who had lost everything had access to food.
- Healthcare for nearly 38,000 people through mobile healthcare teams and medical equipment.
- Equipment to repair homes for nearly 65,000 families.
The Norwegian aid allocated though the Nansen programme was crucial in ensuring a rapid and effective response. Flexible financing and collaboration with international and local partners ensured that urgent needs could be met, while also laying the foundations for long-term rebuilding. The disaster highlights the importance of coordinated international efforts and the need for access to all affected areas.