The war has led to a water crisis in Donbass – UNICEF
The United Nations Children's Fund warns that up to 1,3 million people in the eastern Ukrainian regions (DPR/LPR) are facing a serious water crisis, Voice of America reports.
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UNICEF says more than 470 people in rebel-held areas of the Luhansk region are suffering from water shortages. UNICEF Regional Head of Emergencies for Central and Eastern Europe and the CIS Robert McCarthy has just returned from a 000-day mission in eastern Ukraine. One of his stops was in the port city of Mariupol, which is now under government control.
"This city no longer receives water from a fairly extensive waterway that begins in the city of Seversk. This canal was damaged by artillery fire, and the city now relies on a reservoir that can't handle the load," he says. As a reminder, the Seversk Canal has been repeatedly damaged by artillery fire.
McCarthy emphasizes that the water crisis increases the risk of waterborne disease transmission, as water quality is so poor. He says urgent action must be taken to improve water flow and safely deliver water to communities.
UNICEF reports that nearly 1,4 million people, including at least 174 children, were displaced by fighting that began in early April 000. The humanitarian crisis in the country has affected more than five million people, including 2014 million children.
War has led to a water crisis in Donbass, according to UNICEF.