IBC Deeply Condems The Barbarous Attack To The Humanitarian Team and asks for Solidarity from Worldwide Relief Community.
A Ukrainian team of humanitarian aid workers from IBC came under fire yesterday afternoon while attempting to fill a drinking water point in the eastern Ukrainian city of Kherson with fresh drinking water for the civilians. “The attack occurred while the team was filling a water tank in the city with fresh drinking water for the population,” Recep Üker reports, President of International Blue Crescent Relief and Development Foundation (IBC). Several drones attacked the drinking water tanker, and the truck driver and another IBC employee suffered serious injuries. Witnesses to the attack immediately called an ambulance, but the truck driver died on the way to the hospital. The IBC employee underwent surgery overnight and succumbed to his injuries this morning.
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“We mourn with the families of the deceased and are now at their side. At the same time, we are stunned and shocked that humanitarian aid workers are being targeted by military attacks as they try to help the suffering population,” said Recep Üker. “The inhumane attacks on civilian targets and the constant disregard for international humanitarian law must stop. Those who help others in the greatest need must not be targeted!”
Together with its German partner organization Action Medeor, IBC is now working to ensure that the families of the victims receive psychological support. At the same time, psychological support is also being organized for the IBC team. “Families, friends, and colleagues can now count on our solidarity. We will not leave anyone alone,” emphasizes Üker.
IBC operates several drinking water distribution points in Kherson, regularly filled with drinking water by tankers. More than 3,000 tons of drinking water have now been distributed to the suffering population in the city center of Kherson alone. Moreover, bread and gas are also being provided to vulnerable people in the city.
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The humanitarian aid is funded by Action Medeor, a German partner organization of IBC. "We stand firmly with our partners and condemn the deadly attack on aid workers in the strongest possible terms," says Sid Peruvemba, spokesman for the board of Action Medeor. "Nothing can justify violence against civil society humanitarian aid. Our thoughts are now with the families and colleagues to whom we have also pledged our support from Germany".
The distribution of drinking water at the site of the attack in Kherson has now been suspended until further notice, as has the distribution of bread and gas. About 1,000 people were receiving this aid every day. They are now on their own for the time being.
Before the war, about 324,000 people lived in Kherson. Today, about 100,000 people, including almost 10,000 children, live in the city and the region, often in extremely difficult conditions. Many households have no electricity, gas or running water. The population is therefore dependent on humanitarian aid.
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The people of Kherson live in extremely difficult conditions, without electricity, water or gas. Humanitarian aid organizations such as Action Medeor and IBC have therefore set up drinking water distribution points in the city. They are often the only supply option for the population.
