World Bank to assess damage after Ukraine dam destruction
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The World Bank's new damage assessment would build on its previous analysis of damage to Ukraine’s infrastructure and buildings.
PHOTO: REUTERS
WASHINGTON – The World Bank will support Ukraine by conducting a rapid assessment of damage and needs after Tuesday’s destruction of a huge hydroelectric dam
Ms Anna Bjerde, the World Bank’s managing director for operations, said on Twitter the destruction of the Nova Kakhovka dam had “many very serious consequences for essential service delivery and the broader environment”.
Ukrainian Prime Minister Denys Shmyhal, also writing on Twitter, said he spoke with Ms Bjerde about the impact of the dam’s collapse, and she assured him the World Bank would carry out a rapid assessment of the damage and needs.
Ukrainians abandoned inundated homes on Wednesday Russia and Ukraine trading blame for the disaster
Ukraine said the deluge would leave hundreds of thousands of people without access to drinking water
Ms Bjerde said the new damage assessment would build on the bank’s previous analysis of damage to Ukraine’s infrastructure and buildings, which estimated that it would cost US$411 billion (S$554 billion) to rebuild Ukraine’s economy after Russia’s invasion.
The International Monetary Fund on Wednesday said it is “very concerned” about the social, economic and environmental impact from the destruction of the dam. REUTERS
