Two years on, Ukraine conflict affects over half a million children – UNICEF

The conflict in Ukraine has deeply affected the lives of 580,000 children living in non-government controlled areas and close to the front line in the east of the country, the United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF) said today, highlighting that 200,000 of them – or one in three – need psychosocial support.

“Two years of violence, shelling and fear have left an indelible mark on thousands of children in eastern Ukraine,” Giovanna Barberis, a UNICEF representative in the eastern European nation, said in a press release.

“As the conflict continues, we need to reach these children urgently to meet their physical as well as psychological needs,” she added.

According to the UN agency, more than 215,000 children are internally displaced from the conflict-affected areas, and at least one out of five schools has been damaged or destroyed. Last year, more than 20 children were killed and over 40 were injured; out of those, 28 casualties were caused by mines and exploded ordnance.

In addition, a polio outbreak was confirmed in Ukraine 19 years after the country was declared polio free, and lack of access to health services and a shortage of medicines are threatening more disease outbreaks. As temperatures plummet, fuel shortages and high prices of coal are also leaving children at risk of respiratory infections.

Meanwhile, damage to basic infrastructure has put the water supply at risk for some 2 million people across the front line.

“UNICEF calls all parties to the conflict in Ukraine to ensure safe movement and unhindered humanitarian access to help children in need,” Ms. Barberis stressed.

2016 Programme Targets
Nutrition: 80,000 pregnant or lactating women reached with infant and young child feeding counselling
Health: 400,000 children received regular immunization through the enhancement of cold chain and vaccine distribution systems 2,000 health professionals gained increased knowledge and capacity for the implementation of public health campaigns
WASH: 1.2 million conflict-affected people gained access to safe drinking water 300,000 most vulnerable people received hygiene supplies
Child protection: 400,000 affected children, youth and caregivers received psychosocial support 400,000 children and their families received MRE
Education: 300,000 children benefitted from rehabilitated education infrastructure, life-skills training and educational supplies
HIV and AIDS: 30,000 pregnant women and children provided with tests for early diagnostic of HIV to prevent mother-to-child transmission of HIV

UNICEF has been working with partners to provide children with basic services. To date, this includes providing psychosocial support to over 46,000 children and training almost 5,000 teachers and psychologists to identify signs of distress among children. UNICEF has also reached 1.6 million people with safe water and over 164,000 children and adults with essential hygiene items.

Earlier this year, the agency called for an additional $54.3 million to address the humanitarian needs of the most vulnerable children in conflict-affected areas.