6 months on and there is still no safe place for children in Ukraine. Every war is a war against children. Right now 7.5 million children in Ukraine are in grave danger of physical harm, severe emotional distress, and displacement. The impact on civilians is reaching terrifying proportions. Air strikes and explosions have damaged essential services like schools, hospitals.
We are gravely concerned for children caught in the middle of this armed conflict. A child from Ukraine has become a refugee almost every single second of the war.
Children must be protected from harm at all times.
Anna*, 29 is a mother of two to 4-year-old Daryna* and 2-year-old Danilo* (pictured).
They fled their home in Ukraine when fighting escalated near where they live. Anna told us:
"We fled because we were scared. There was bombing in the area... We saw rockets being fired and destroyed buildings... The children don't understand what's happening."
"I had to explain to Daryna* what was happening. I said that to be safe we had to leave and go to another country... She didn't really respond. But sometimes when she heard bangs she'd say she was scared."
"We just hope the fighting will end and we can return home."
Anna* and her children stayed at a temporary camp in Romania before moving to the Reception Centre. Here, Save the Children runs child friendly spaces at the Reception Centre where Anna's children can play and recover from the traumatic experiences they've been through. We are also providing families with advice and information, as well as food and other essential items.
In times of humanitarian crises, when children are at their most vulnerable, Save the Children is there.
Our teams are responding through partners to deliver essential humanitarian aid to children and their families. This includes the provision of food, water, hygiene kits, and safe places for children. We are providing cash grants to families so they can meet their basic needs.
Our specialist teams are providing children with access to safe, inclusive, quality education and are working to help children overcome the psychological impacts of their experiences of conflict and violence.
Save the Children has been delivering humanitarian aid to children and their families in Ukraine since 2014. Now, we are supporting refugee families from Ukraine across Europe, helping children to get access to the services they need.
Our Child Emergency Fund allows us to respond wherever the need is greatest. Donate to save the lives of children in crisis.
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