Out to save Ukraine’s

Children wave to their father from an evacuation train from Kiev to Lviv at the main station in Kiev, March 3 [Gleb Garanich/Reuters].

The war in Ukraine is destroying the lives of millions of children.
The bombing of a children’s hospital and maternity ward last week put children in the direct line of fire, increasing the already great danger to them in this war.

SOS Children’s Villages staff in Ukraine transported over 100 children and foster families to safety in Poland in the first week after the invasion.
Since then, we have moved another 500 fosters and caregivers to safe locations in other neighboring countries.

But many more children remain trapped, exposed to the dangers of ground combat, bombing, hunger and freezing temperatures.
Some 1.5 million children live in cities and towns in war zones where access is blocked. There is no food, no electricity, no access to medicine, no fuel for generators, and no way to call for help.

Among those most at risk are thousands of children isolated in state-run care facilities.
They are at high risk of neglect, violence and trafficking. They urgently need professional humanitarian assistance to evacuate. Their situation is dire.

Many institutions are alarmingly understaffed as people continue to flee the country. Those who remain can barely provide basic care.
Children with disabilities and special needs are particularly vulnerable to neglect.

Through our network of partners, in partnership with the Ukrainian Commissioner for Children’s Rights, we are working to rescue these children left behind in institutions and other forms of alternative care.
Time is running out. Half a million have already left the country. By the time of this writing, 109 children have died and 130 have been injured. Those left behind will grow up with fear and trauma.

The legacy of this war will be a traumatized generation. They need safe ways to evacuate children and families immediately.
We must support the Ukrainian government in ensuring the safety of these institutionalized children and providing them with quality care that meets their individual needs.

The Ukrainian government is currently reviewing regulations for evacuating children from institutions, including relocating children to other countries.
Any evacuation must respect their rights and the highest standards of child protection.

Significant humanitarian assistance, including mental health and psychosocial support, must be provided to all children and their caregivers, as well as alternative care workers, both in Ukraine and in countries hosting refugees .

As the number of fleeing civilians continues to grow, we urgently need to organize shelter and emergency care for them. For children, this means creating child-friendly spaces, providing temporary alternative care for lonely children, and reuniting children with family members.