More than 1 million children have now fled Ukraine

More than one million children have now fled the war in Ukraine, and most have gone with their families to neighbouring countries such as Poland, Hungary, Slovakia, Moldova and Romania, according to children’s charity UNICEF.

“The number of children on the move is staggering, an indication of how desperate the situation for children and families in Ukraine has become,” said UNICEF Regional Director for Europe and Central Asia Afshan Khan. “Children are leaving everything they know behind in search of safety. This is heart-breaking.”

Six trucks carrying nearly 70 tons of supplies, include personal protection equipment and medical, surgical and obstetric kits, have so far arrived in Ukraine.

Working with partners, UNICEF teams in Ukraine will be delivering medical supplies to 22 hospitals in 5 different conflict-affected areas of Ukraine, to benefit 20,000 children and mothers.

UNICEF has renewed its call for safe, rapid and unimpeded humanitarian access to reach populations in need, and for the safe passage of civilians to reach the services and protection to which they are entitled.

Across the border, three trucks were dispatched from Copenhagen – UNICEF’s warehouse and the largest humanitarian hub in the world – carrying essential supplies, such as early childhood development, recreational and hygiene kits. These supplies have now arrived in Poland. Additional supplies are on their way from Copenhagen and from Turkey, and are due to arrive in the coming days.

To assist children and families on the move from Ukraine to Moldova, Poland, Romania and Belarus, UNICEF has set up ‘Blue Dots,’ which are one-stop safe spaces providing key information to travelling families and able to identify unaccompanied and separated children and ensure their protection.

UNICEF is appealing for USD$ 349 million to prevent a further deterioration of the welfare of children in Ukraine and neighbouring countries and to enable the effective provision of critical life-saving support. This includes US$ 276 million for immediate needs within Ukraine and US$73 million in neighbouring countries.

“We’re doing everything we can to help the children and families in need but the war must end. Peace is the only sustainable solution,” Khan said.