UN / GUTERRES UKRAINE DAM

STORY: UN / GUTERRES UKRAINE DAM
TRT: 2:26
SOURCE: UNIFEED
RESTRICTIONS: NONE
LANGUAGES: ENGLISH / NATS

DATELINE: 6 JUNE 2023, NEW YORK CITY / FILE

SHOTLIST:

FILE - NEW YORK CITY

1. Wide shot, United Nations Headquarters

6 JUNE 2023, NEW YORK CITY

2. Pan left, Guterres walks to the stakeout
3. SOUNDBITE (English) António Guterres, Secretary- General, United Nations:
“We have all seen the tragic images coming out today of the monumental humanitarian, economic and ecological catastrophe in the Kherson region of Ukraine.
The United Nations has no access to independent information on the circumstances that led to the destruction in the Kakhovka hydroelectric power plant dam.
But one thing is clear: this is another devastating consequence of the Russian invasion of Ukraine.
We are seeing the effects in the city of Kherson, the town of Nova Kakhovka and 80 other towns and villages along the Dnipro river.
Massive flooding. Large-scale evacuations. Environmental devastation. Destruction of newly planted crops.
And added threats to the highly threatened Zaporizhzia nuclear power plant -- Europe’s largest nuclear facility.
At least 16,000 people have already lost their homes -- with safe and clean drinking water supplies at risk for many thousands more.
The United Nations and humanitarian partners are rushing support in coordination with the Government of Ukraine – including drinking water and water purification tablets and other critical assistance.
We will continue our humanitarian work – and our appeals for urgent safe and secure humanitarian access.
Today’s tragedy is yet another example of the horrific price of war on people.
The floodgates of suffering have been overflowing for more than a year.
That must stop.
Attacks against civilians and critical civilian infrastructure must stop.
We must act to ensure accountability and respect for international humanitarian law.
Above all, I appeal for a just peace in line with the UN Charter, international law and the resolutions of the General Assembly.”
4. Pan right, Guterres walks away from the stakeout

STORYLINE:

The United Nations Secretary-General, António Guterres, called the damage caused to the Nova Kakhovka dam in Ukraine a “monumental humanitarian, economic and ecological catastrophe”, also noting that the UN “has no access to independent information on the circumstances that led to the destruction”.

Speaking to journalists in New York on Tuesday (6 June), Guterres added that “one thing is clear” and “this is another devastating consequence of the Russian invasion of Ukraine.”

The UN chief added, “We are seeing the effects in the city of Kherson, the town of Nova Kakhovka and 80 other towns and villages along the Dnipro river. Massive flooding. Large-scale evacuations. Environmental devastation. Destruction of newly planted crops. And added threats to the highly threatened Zaporizhzia nuclear power plant -- Europe’s largest nuclear facility.”

According to Guterres, at least 16,000 people have already lost their homes and safe and clean drinking water supplies at risk for many thousands more.

The Secretary-General said that “the United Nations and humanitarian partners are rushing support in coordination with the Government of Ukraine – including drinking water and water purification tablets and other critical assistance.”

“We will continue our humanitarian work – and our appeals for urgent safe and secure humanitarian access,” said Guterres.

For the UN chief, “today’s tragedy is yet another example of the horrific price of war on people.”

“The floodgates of suffering have been overflowing for more than a year. That must stop. Attacks against civilians and critical civilian infrastructure must stop. We must act to ensure accountability and respect for international humanitarian law,” added Guterres.

The Secretary-General concluded by appealing “for a just peace in line with the UN Charter, international law and the resolutions of the General Assembly.”