Finland to send aid for Kakhovka dam explosion victims

Finland will send emergency aid including water purification material and food packages to Ukraine for the victims of the Kakhovka dam explosion.

The aid will be sent through the EU Civil Protection Mechanism in response to Ukraine's request, said the Ministry of the Interior in a press release on Friday.

In addition, preparations are being made to send additional assistance on the basis of updated requests from the Ukrainian authorities.

The human and environmental impacts of the explosion of the Kakhovka dam that took place on June 6 are significant. Since March 2022, Finland has provided Ukraine with civilian material assistance. Finland will continue its support to Ukraine.

"The explosion of the Kakhovka dam is causing widespread damage to civilians and the environment. The situation is very serious and there is a great need for assistance. Floodwaters are slowing down evacuations in the area and reducing supplies of clean drinking water, for example. The purpose of the emergency aid is to safeguard the basic needs of the population in the disaster area,” said Minister of the Interior Krista Mikkonen.

The destruction of the dam is expected to have long-lasting impacts on the environment.

According to simulations previously developed by the European Commission’s Emergency Response Coordination Centre (ERCC), it will take several days for the waters to recede significantly.

So far, Finland has provided Ukraine with 238 truckloads of material assistance. Finland has previously emergency shelters, medicines, healthcare supplies, rescue service equipment, armoured accommodation containers for the use of rescue personnel, buses and energy equipment to Ukraine.

The number of truckloads includes modular accommodation delivered to Ukrainians for people who have lost their homes, as well as sheltered and mobile accommodation containers for the Ukrainian rescue services.

The modular accommodation and the mobile containers were provided through a joint project between the Ministry for Foreign Affairs of Finland and the Ministry of the Interior.