UN aid chief visits Kherson, warns of drone warfare's civilian toll
UN aid chief Tom Fletcher visited Kherson, highlighting the severe threat of drones to civilians and aid workers.
Ahead of World Humanitarian Day, the UN's top aid official, Tom Fletcher, visited Kherson, one of Ukraine's most dangerous frontline cities, to witness the humanitarian impact of the conflict.
During his visit, Fletcher traveled the road from Mykolaiv to Kherson, which locals call the 'road of death' due to frequent drone attacks. He described the conflict as a "dystopian war" of "kill zones and kamikaze drones," where cheap and easily available means to kill are outpacing accountability.
At the Kherson Regional Hospital, a key medical facility for the region, Fletcher saw the aftermath of a drone strike that hit a kitchen just two days prior. He met survivors of first-person-view (FPV) drone attacks, including people who had lost limbs or were targeted while selling fruit at a market.
"You can see the damage that a $300 drone can do," Fletcher said, highlighting the constant threat faced by civilians and humanitarians. He noted the "chilling alliance between technological ingenuity and the new laws of the battlefield."
The visit was punctuated by danger, as the delegation had to run for shelter when gunfire was heard. Fletcher also observed a drill demonstrating emergency care for civilians and praised the work of surgeons and humanitarian partners operating under immense danger.
He emphasized the need for accountability and for international rules to keep pace with technological developments that are causing horrific damage. "We need accountability, we need the rules to keep up, and we need an end to this war," he stated.