The dam on the Siverskyi Donets river, damaged during the hostilities, was repaired in the Donetsk oblast with the help of the International Committee of the Red Cross. This was reported by the press service of the charitable organization.
The repaired dam is located in the village of Raihorodok near Sloviansk, and another dam was repaired in the village of Oskil in the Kharkiv oblast. Both are part of the water supply system that feeds the Siverskyi Donets-Donbas canal.
This system previously provided technical and drinking water to millions of people in the Donetsk oblast. Due to the hostilities, the canal’s capacity has significantly decreased, and it now mainly serves people in Kramatorsk.
According to the ICRC, the armed conflict not only affected the water supply to the population but also exacerbated technical problems that hinder the safe discharge of excess water. These consequences of the conflict, along with the unreliability of the dams, increase the risk of collapse and flooding.
In collaboration with local authorities, the charity repaired the main lifting mechanisms of the sluice gates and cleared debris caused by the damage. They also cleared areas of unexploded ordnance around the dams to reduce risks for utility workers.
Thanks to the repairs, more than 70,000 people in northeastern Ukraine will have access to quality water supply.