Humanitarian Emergency Unfolds in Occupied Oleshky
Ukraine’s Foreign Minister, Andriy Sybiga, has highlighted an alarming humanitarian crisis in Oleshky, a town under temporary Russian occupation in the Kherson region. Civilians, including children, are enduring severe shortages of food, medicine, clean water, electricity, and medical services. Sybiga called on international bodies such as the United Nations and the International Committee of the Red Cross to facilitate humanitarian aid access and organize safe evacuations. Michael O'Flaherty, the Council of Europe’s Human Rights Commissioner, confirmed the deteriorating conditions and stressed the urgent need for action.
Located on the left bank of Kherson Oblast, Oleshky had a population of approximately 24,000 before the full-scale invasion. Now, only around 2,000 people remain, including roughly 50 children. According to Sybiga, "Residents in temporarily occupied Oleshky are starving. Food supplies have nearly vanished. Reports indicate civilians are forced to survive by eating grass and weeds as medicines, clean water, electricity, and healthcare become increasingly scarce."
The minister held Russia accountable as the occupying power, emphasizing its obligations under international humanitarian law to provide food and medical supplies to the civilian population. Sybiga stressed, "People cannot survive on expressions of concern alone. Humanitarian corridors and safe evacuation must be urgently established because every day counts."
International Appeals for Immediate Intervention
The Council of Churches has also appealed to the Pope to intervene and save Oleshky’s residents, warning that the city is on the brink of a humanitarian disaster. Additionally, according to Lubinets, Russia has yet to confirm any willingness to evacuate civilians, forcing residents to flee through mine-laden fields on their own. Ukraine intends to raise the humanitarian situation in Oleshky at the UN General Assembly to draw global attention to this urgent crisis.
This dire scenario in Oleshky exemplifies the severe humanitarian consequences of armed conflict. Under occupation, civilians face life-threatening shortages of basic necessities. The urgent calls to international organizations for aid and evacuation underscore the critical need for immediate measures to protect vulnerable populations trapped in this crisis.
The situation in Oleshky is further exacerbated by Russia’s ongoing blockade, which has critically limited access to essential supplies and evacuation routes for civilians. As highlighted in a recent report, the humanitarian crisis has left many residents without food, water, and medical aid. To understand the full scope of this emergency and the implications for the local population, read more about how the blockade has intensified the challenges faced by Oleshky's residents in our detailed coverage regarding the humanitarian emergency.