MFA reports critical humanitarian situation in occupied Kherson region

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Ukraine has announced a critical deterioration of the humanitarian situation in certain communities in the temporarily occupied part of Kherson region. First of all, we are talking about Oleshky, Hola Prystan, Stara Zburivka and Nova Zburivka, where people are actually on the verge of survival.

This is stated in a statement by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Ukraine.

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs emphasized that the Russian occupiers are blocking the departure of the population and preventing the delivery of food, medicine and essential goods. As a result, local residents, including children and people with limited mobility, are forced to live without proper access to food, drinking water, medical care and basic living conditions.

According to the agency, the population in some communities has decreased significantly. In particular, in Oleshky, the number of residents decreased from 24,000 to about 2,000. In total, more than 6,000 people, including about 200 children, may need humanitarian assistance.

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs also reported that critical infrastructure in these areas has been virtually destroyed, with no electricity or gas supply. Civilians trying to buy food or leave by their own transport are being targeted by Russian drones.

As of now, government agencies have received more than 220 requests to evacuate residents from dangerous areas. The information about the humanitarian catastrophe is confirmed by the Ombudsman's Office, Ukrainian intelligence agencies and international organizations.

Ukraine has already started consultations with the UN and the International Committee of the Red Cross on possible ways to evacuate and rescue civilians. The Ukrainian side also plans to raise the topic of the humanitarian situation at the UN and OSCE platforms.

As a reminder, the humanitarian situation in the temporarily occupied Oleshky has deteriorated sharply since mid-April. The town was effectively under siege due to the constant danger and bombings of transport.

Earlier, Ukrainian Ombudsman Dmytro Lubinets said that the situation in Oleshky is a humanitarian catastrophe and a direct consequence of the occupation. He called on the international community to take immediate action and strengthen its response.

In its turn, Ukraine has asked the International Committee of the Red Cross to use its mandate to organize a safe corridor and deliver humanitarian aid.

Андрій Колісніченко