UN Accuses Russia of Hindering Aid to Victims of the Kakhovka Dam Collapse in Ukraine

JAKARTA - The United Nations on Sunday accused Russia of continuing to block humanitarian aid shipments to Moscow-controlled areas of eastern Ukraine, which were affected by the recent Kakhovka dam burst.

"The government of the Russian Federation has so far refused our requests to access areas under its military control," UN Humanitarian Coordinator for Ukraine Denise Brown said in a statement.

Furthermore, he said, the world body will continue to try to get the necessary access.

The collapse of the Kakhovka Dam on June 6 flooded large parts of the Kherson region, which is under Russian and Ukrainian control, forcing thousands of people to flee and sparking fears of an environmental disaster.

Brown urged Russian authorities to act in accordance with their obligations under international humanitarian law.

"The United Nations will continue to do all it can to reach all people, including those who have suffered from the recent dam collapses, who are in dire need of life-saving assistance, wherever they are," Brown said.

Officials in the Russian-controlled area announced on Saturday that the death toll from the dam burst had risen to 29.

Meanwhile, Kyiv said the death toll in its territory had risen to 16, while 31 people were still missing.