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Ukraine

REACH Ukraine Situational Overview: Kakhovka Dam breach (16 June 2023) [EN/UK]

Attachments

Background and Methodology

On 6 June, the Kakhovka Hydroelectric Power Plan (about 70 km upstream from Kherson city) was severely damaged by explosions, including damage to the dam, causing water to flood areas downstream and inundating at least 80 settlements on both sides of the river bank. By 7 June, UNOSAT analysis of satellite imagery estimated around 20% of Kherson city was flooded. Ukrainian authorities reported that on 8 June the water on the right bank of the river reached its highest level at 5.6 metres. In some areas, houses were completely flooded. The destruction caused by the flow of water led to a large amount of hazardous debris formation.

Since then, water levels have continued to recede. However, over 3.500 homes and businesses in areas under Ukrainian control remain affected by flood waters, with water levels just above 2 metres on 14 June, according to authorities. At the time of writing, thousands of persons remain displaced with limited ability to assess the damage to their homes and livelihood. This situational overview looks at the humanitarian needs of displaced persons affected by the flood.

Further, it combines concerns shared by local authorities related to health, water, sanitation and hygiene (WASH) with data on potential pollutants and contamination of surface water and soil obtained through remote sensing.

Information shared in this situational overview is based on 10 in-depth interviews (IDIs) and one focus group discussion (FGD) with evacuees in Kherson city and Bilozerka, 5 Key informant interviews (KIIs) with local authorities, open-source media, and observations by the field teams in Kherson. Additional information was gathered using remote sensing based on satellite imagery from the Sentinel-3. The situation remains volatile and subject to change.

Findings from interviews should be considered indicative rather than representative of the situation and are limited to areas under Ukrainian control.