Attachments
The Ukrainian team of humanitarian aid workers Kherson Field Coordinator Zavtur VLADISLAV and water truck driver Andrey Studinsky from IBC(International Blue Crescent) came under fire yesterday afternoon while attempting to fill a drinking water point in the eastern Ukrainian city of Kherson with fresh drinking water for the civilian population. “The attack occurred while the team was filling a water tank in the city with fresh drinking water for the population,” reports Recep Üker, President of the International Blue Crescent Relief and Development Foundation (IBC). Several drones attacked the drinking water tanker, the truck driver and another IBC employee suffered serious injuries. Witnesses to the attack immediately called an ambulance, but the truck driver died on the way to hospital. The IBC employee underwent surgery during the night and succumbed to his injuries this morning.
“We mourn with the families of the deceased and are now at their side. At the same time, we are stunned and shocked that humanitarian aid workers are being targeted by military attacks while trying to help the suffering population,” said Recep Üker. “The inhumane attacks on civilian targets and the constant disregard for international humanitarian law must stop. Those who help others in greatest need must not become targets!”
Together with its German partner organization action medeor, IBC is now working to ensure that the families of the victims receive psychological support. At the same time, psychological support is also being organized for the IBC team. “Families, friends and colleagues can now count on our solidarity. We are not leaving anyone alone,” emphasizes Üker.
IBC operates several drinking water distribution points in Kherson, which are regularly filled with drinking water by tankers. More than 3,000 tons of drinking water have now been distributed to the suffering population in the city centre of Kherson alone. The humanitarian aid is financed by Action Medeor, a German partner organization of IBC. “We stand firmly by our partners and condemn the deadly attack on aid workers in the strongest possible terms,” says Sid Peruvemba, spokesman for the board of Action Medeor. “Nothing can justify violence against civil society humanitarian aid. Our thoughts are now with the families and colleagues to whom we have also pledged support from Germany.”