The foreign ministry responded quickly to the partial destruction of the Kakhovka dam on June 6 and the resulting flooding, it confirmed in a reportExternal link in the SonntagsZeitung.
“The embassy in Kyiv is currently in the process of delivering urgently needed pipes and pumps to the water network operators above the dam,” said spokesperson Michael Steiner. This would allow the water supply systems to operate even at lower water levels, he said.
The embassy is also working with communities, local water network operators and NGOs on plans for the delivery of water treatment units and water tanks.
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Kakhovka dam: Swiss warn of serious long-term consequences
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A state of emergency has been imposed in parts of Ukraine’s Kherson region following the destruction of the Nova Kakhovka dam and widescale flooding.
The Swiss embassy is currently being supported by two water, sanitation and hygiene (WASH) specialists from the Swiss Humanitarian Aid Unit (SHA) who were already in the country.
Together with a Ukrainian WASH engineer, they will help find short- and medium-term solutions to mitigate the impact. Another SHA member was seconded to the United Nations and was involved in coordinating WASH measures with Ukrainian water network operators.
Threat of mines
Many partner organisations funded by the Swiss Agency for Development and Cooperation (SDC) have adapted their activities to provide emergency aid to people affected by the floods. For example, the Swiss partner organisation Partnership Fund for a Resilient Ukraine supported the local government of the city of Kherson in providing water tanks, generators and boats for rescue and demining operations.
Other NGOs funded by the SDC are also providing emergency aid to those affected by the floods. This involves hygiene kits, material for shelters, food and other relief supplies, the foreign ministry explained.
A precise assessment of the impact and needs on the ground will not be possible for several days. Access and aid delivery in the region is being hampered by displaced and washed-up mines, the ministry said.
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Swiss lawmakers reject CHF5bn aid plan for Ukraine
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The House of Representatives has refused to back a proposal for a CHF5 billion aid package for war-torn Ukraine over the next five to ten years.
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Switzerland wants to examine cooperation with the EU in the defence sector
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Swiss trial shows organic farming is 85% as productive as conventional agriculture
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Nestlé fined by Swiss canton for illegally filtered water
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Swiss government proposes restrictions on Ukrainian refugees
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The Fribourg parliament approved a sum of CHF6.4 million to renovate the ramparts, the walkway and the towers, as well as to replace the exterior lighting.
Swiss rental housing listings increase for the first time in three years
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Switzerland doing relatively well when it comes to child vaccination rates
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Progress in child immunisation has stalled. For decades, the number of children vaccinated against measles, polio and other diseases has risen. But since 2010, vaccination rates have stagnated in many countries, according to a study.
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