On 29th of October, a powerful explosion rocked the town of Svatove in Luhansk. The explosion occurred at a military ammunitions warehouse, causing a serious fire and tragically resulting in two deaths and four wounded civilians. There was also extensive damage to residential buildings, schools, hospitals and local government buildings; some houses have been completely flattened, while others have suffered damage to roofs, walls and windows.
“Access to people in need was impossible for the first 24 hours due to explosions caused by ammunition scattered all over the city. The population was in effect trapped in an area littered with unexploded ammunition, which made access for NRC extremely difficult” explains Gianluca Galli, the NRC’s Area Manager in eastern Ukraine. “Most of the people in the city did not want to be evacuated and simply found shelter in their basements.”
NRC responded to the incident on 31st of October with basic relief materials - drinking water, food, construction materials and items for winter. In total, NRC delivered 500 bottles of 1,5 lts of water, 500 emergency supply kits and construction materials like battens, plastic sheets, nails and wooden boarding. Our response is continuing with the delivery of cement and glass for reconstruction of people's homes.
NRC began relief operations in eastern Ukraine in January 2015, providing much needed blankets, clothes, heaters and firewood to displaced people in conflict-affected communities.
