Conflict in Ukraine
And how UNICEF is helping children
What’s happening in Ukraine?
It’s been over ten years since the armed conflict first disrupted the lives of over 500,000 children in Ukraine.
Since the full-scale invasion in February 2022, more than half of Ukraine’s 7.5 million children have experienced displacement at some point in the ongoing war.
Homes, schools, water supplies and hospitals have been damaged or destroyed. Children have had to leave their homes, often without their families. Hundreds of thousands have been left without clean water, food or electricity.
At the same time, explosives are a daily threat to children’s lives.
What is UNICEF doing in Ukraine?
Together with our partners, we are at the forefront of the humanitarian response in Ukraine, delivering urgent support to children and families.
We have been working tirelessly to keep children safe since this conflict began ten years ago and we are determined to remain in Ukraine to reach the most vulnerable children and families.
1. Providing families with food and water
We are helping to provide families with vital access to clean water and nutritious food. In addition, we are calling for the protection of remaining essential infrastructure including sanitation systems, health facilities and schools.
2. Supporting child health and protection services
We are helping ensure that child health and protection services are available for families who need them. Meanwhile, critical supplies are being provided to cover the immediate needs of families forced to flee across Ukraine. We are also helping to strengthen local health facilities.
3. Supporting refugees with Blue Dot safe spaces
We continue to work with our partners and the UNHCR to assist refugees in neighbouring countries. As part of this, we continue to operate Blue Dot safe spaces in Moldova, Belarus, Slovakia and Slovenia.
Ultimately, these Blue Dots provide key information for displaced families, psychosocial support, safe spaces for mothers and children, and protection for unaccompanied and separated children.
4. Calling for a ceasefire
We are calling for an immediate ceasefire to ensure that humanitarian support can be delivered safely and quickly to children in need. We will remain in Ukraine to reach the most vulnerable children and families.
