The International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) warned Monday of the danger posed by unexploded shells and mines in and around the town of Kherson, recaptured in recent days by the Ukrainian Armed Forces after seven months of Russian control.
«We know that there is a high level of weaponized contamination around the city and in areas affected by the hostilities and of the enormous misery inflicted by the destruction of these hidden threats,» the ICRC warned in a statement citing regional director for Eurasia Ariane Bauer.
These explosives cause «loss of life and injury.» «The remnants of war can prevent access to essential services such as hospitals or repairs to water or electricity services,» which «causes additional suffering for civilians,» it added.
«The humanitarian needs in Kherson are already evident and we have a team in place to assess the scale of assistance needed, in particular urgent medical assistance,» the ICRC added.
Earlier Monday, the UN delivered humanitarian supplies to Kherson, the first time humanitarian workers have entered the town since it fell into Russian hands in early March.
The humanitarian convoy delivered food, water, hygiene kits, shelter materials and household goods to more than 6,000 people, while a health center in the town will receive medicines to treat more than 1,000 patients over the next month.
The International Organization for Migration (IOM), the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR), the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) and the World Food Program (WFP) participated in the convoy, according to a note from the international organization.
The UN has stressed that the international community will continue to mobilize resources to expand its operations and deliver aid in the Kherson region. In recent weeks, aid has been delivered to 12,000 people in other localities in the region recaptured by Ukrainian troops.
