Bilozerka, Ukraine - U.N. officials who conducted an assessment of the Kakhovka dam in Ukraine have reported that the extent of the destruction is even more severe than previously depicted in news reports and satellite imagery. Speaking from the town of Bilozerka on the west bank of the Dnipro River, Denise Brown, the humanitarian coordinator in Ukraine for the U.N. office for the coordination of humanitarian affairs (OCHA), addressed journalists via satellite.

During the press conference, Brown expressed the dire situation, stating, "We have been visiting this morning with the authorities, the communities, the small villages along the river that have been completely submerged by the flooding. The status situation is dramatic."

Bilozerka, a town just five kilometers from the front line, has been significantly impacted by daily shelling and the destruction of the bridge due to the ongoing war. The recent flooding, which occurred unexpectedly in the middle of the night, has added to the suffering of the local population. Despite the challenges, Brown commended the resilience of the affected people, noting that they are determined to remain in their homes.

According to Ukrainian authorities, at least 80 towns and villages in the Kherson region have been either fully or partially flooded. Additionally, thousands of hectares of agricultural land have been submerged, and approximately 17,000 individuals in government-controlled areas have been affected by the flooding.

Shabia Mantoo, spokesperson for the U.N. refugee agency, highlighted that many more people in areas under temporary military control of the Russian Federation have also been affected, but humanitarian organizations currently lack access to these territories. The U.N. Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR) has repeatedly requested access to these areas from the Russian Federation, but their appeals have been denied.

Jeremy Laurence, spokesman for the OHCHR, emphasized the need for access to the occupied territories and urged the Russian Federation to grant assistance to those affected by the humanitarian catastrophe caused by the destruction of the Kakhovka dam.

Humanitarian agencies, including Ukrainian authorities, the International Red Cross, and various U.N. and non-governmental organizations, have acted swiftly in response to the dam breach. Relief supplies have been delivered, and aid is being provided to the victims caught in this devastating disaster.

The U.N. refugee agency (UNHCR) is participating in an inter-agency convoy that will deliver essential relief supplies to the worst affected areas of Kherson and Zaporizhzhia via five trucks on Friday and Saturday.

The situation remains critical as the communities affected by the Kakhovka dam's destruction struggle to cope with the aftermath of the flooding. International efforts are ongoing to provide relief and support to those affected, but challenges persist in accessing all impacted areas.