ChildFund remains in Ukraine despite the war horrors around them
Despite the horrors around them including bombing and starvation, ChildFund’s partners remain on the ground in Ukraine helping children and families.
Right now, ChildFund is providing food, medicine, nappies and other essentials to families in Ukraine and is also working at the border in Poland and Romania giving out basic essentials including food, hot drinks, blankets, and clothing.
“The war in Ukraine is absolutely heartbreaking. We're hearing from ChildFund’s partners in the southeastern city of Mariupol how truly desperate it is, with bombing around them, starvation, and women and children hiding in basements,” says ChildFund New Zealand’s Programme Director Sally Angelson.
"The resilience of ChildFund’s partners in Ukraine is incredible. There’s a massive food, medicine, and fuel shortage there, and it’s the middle of winter, in the east it’s minus 10 degrees.”
Working through ChildFund Alliance partners and a network of trusted NGOs, ChildFund is providing money to families to get the basic essentials they need right now, like food, electricity, fuel, and medicine for people in Ukraine and supporting those who have fled to Poland and Romania as refugees.
Angelson say children are terrified all across Ukraine. Schools are closed and those who have not fled are at home with their families and living constantly under the shadow of fear and uncertainty.
In the southwest of Ukraine, ChildFund is also providing support to children to help take their minds off the horrors around them. Through the delivery of a programme for children with a network of about 100 teachers doing online lessons of up to 100 children per session.
“Having some sense of normality is absolutely crucial for these children right now. We’ve seen the images of the invasion of Ukraine in the news over the past weeks and the impact it’s having on families, so imagine how it is for the children waking up to this,” Angelson says.
“Children in Ukraine are scared and don’t know what tomorrow will bring.”
An estimated two million people have fled Ukraine since the Russian invasion, and the UN projects four million refugees could arrive in neighboring countries in the coming weeks.
Thousands have died in the fighting so far, including children, with thousands more people missing and injured.
ChildFund has been working in Ukraine since 2004 on child focused projects in all major regions of the country. Since 2014 when Crimea was occupied by Russia, the south eastern region of Donbass has been affected by war and ChildFund´s involvement has grown significantly.
About ChildFund New Zealand
ChildFund New Zealand is a member of ChildFund Alliance, a global network focused on ending violence and exploitation against children, and promoting a world in which all children enjoy their rights and achieve their full potential. Please visit childfund.org.nz for more information.
For further information or interviews contact ChildFund New Zealand Engagement Manager Carolyn Brooke on 0272859978 or email carolyn@childfund.org.nz