Blue Dot
Shelters

What are Blue Dot Shelters?

Blue Dot shelters provide a safe space for families and children on the move in emergencies. For those who have travelled for hours and more, these Blue Dot zones will provide much-needed respite and access to essential services.

These hubs connect with each other to help trace and reunite separated families. We also look out for children who arrive alone so that we can protect them.

Children at risk include:

• Children travelling on their own,
• Those with disabilities or illnesses,
• Cases of suspected trafficking,
• Survivors of sexual or gender-based violence.

Each Blue Dot can support to 3,000-5,000 people per day, per site.

Through these Blue Dots, we ensure that children are protected every step of the way.

Support given at Blue Dot shelters

We work with our partners and local communities to set up the Blue Dots. Through these hubs, we help children and families by:

• Providing key information to travelling families,
• Giving mental, emotional, and social support,
• Offering a safe space for mothers and children, allowing children to rest and play,
• Providing emergency clothing and blankets,
• Assessing protection risks – especially for children travelling alone,
• Supporting separated children.

In addition, we assess each site and provide extra services if needed.

Blue Dots in Europe and on the borders of Ukraine

Blue Dot shelters were used successfully to support women and children during the 2015-2016 European refugee crisis.

This year, we have set up several centres in countries that neighbour Ukraine. We are working with our partners to position them along key routes out of the country. The first Blue Dot shelter opened in Sighetu Marmatiei, Romania, at the beginning of the conflict.

To set this shelter up, we worked with local and national authorities and a number of local NGOs. Thousands of families with children have now passed through this hub and used its services.

In total, 25 Blue Dot safe spaces have been set up on the borders of Ukraine. These centres had reached over 71,000 people by the end of April 2022. But there is more to be done.

We are building Blue Dots in Moldova, Romania, Belarus, Slovakia, Poland, Hungary, and Czech Republic.