UNICEF Warns of Increased Child Deaths in Ukraine
As deadly attacks in Ukraine persist, the UN Children’s Fund (UNICEF) has raised concerns about the rising number of children killed this year compared to 2023.
Impact of Attacks
Between January and March, 25 children, including a two-month-old, lost their lives in attacks. In the first three weeks of April, nine more children were killed, highlighting the ongoing threat to children’s lives in the region.
UNICEF’s Regional Director for Europe and Central Asia, Regina De Dominicis, emphasized the devastating impact of the attacks on children and families, noting that each attack hinders recovery efforts and worsens the quality of life for children.
Destruction of Infrastructure
The attacks have not only claimed lives but also destroyed vital infrastructure that children rely on. Thousands of homes, 36 health facilities, and 140 educational facilities have been damaged or destroyed within the first three months of the year.
Power and water supplies have been targeted, disrupting essential services and posing a heightened risk to children’s lives and well-being. UNICEF and its partners are working to rebuild these critical services to mitigate the impact on children.
Challenges in Education
Access to education has been severely disrupted, with almost half of enrolled children missing out on classroom learning. Nearly one million Ukrainian children are unable to attend in-person sessions due to insecurity exacerbated by the ongoing conflict.
UNICEF’s Response
UNICEF is actively engaged in rehabilitating schools and shelters, providing at-home learning kits, and offering online support to ensure continued education for children in Ukraine. In 2023, the agency reached 103 million children with formal and non-formal learning opportunities.
Furthermore, UNICEF provided mental health and psychosocial support through safe spaces and support hubs, benefiting 2.5 million children and caregivers. The agency is seeking an additional $250 million to bolster its support for children and families in Ukraine, particularly in frontline areas and for humanitarian and recovery programs in 2024.