The vast majority of underage Ukrainians became migrants, but most of them remained in Ukraine.
Ukrainian children are the most vulnerable group suffering from Russian military aggression. According to the United Nations since the beginning of the war , more than two thirds of minors have been removed from their places of residence, writes Politico.
According to official data, 7.5 million children lived in Ukraine before the war, and the vast majority of them are now displaced. UNICEF Emergency Management Director Manuel Fontaine said after a trip to Ukraine that 4.8 million young Ukrainians had been forced to flee their homes during the nearly seven weeks of the war. He considers it “quite incredible”, because in 31 years of humanitarian work he has never seen it happen so quickly.
“They were forced to leave everything – their homes, schools and often members of their families,” said Manuel Fontaine at the UN Security Council. “I've heard stories of desperate parents taking steps to save their children and children upset that they can't go back to school.”
Read also: The number of internally displaced persons in Ukraine has reached 7.1 million – UN
The director of the UNICEF program claims that out of 4.8 million children, 2.8 remained in Ukraine, while 2 million are under temporary protection in other countries in Europe and the world. At the same time, according to him, another 3.2 million young Ukrainians living in Ukraine “may be at risk of food shortages.” In the worst situation are those in blocked cities, including Mariupol.
During a UN meeting, Ukrainian Ambassador Serhiy Kyslytsia said Russia had abducted more than 121,000 children from temporarily occupied territories, and the preparation in Russia of a bill to facilitate the adoption of Ukrainian orphans and even those who have parents and other relatives.
To which Manuel Fontaine said that UNICEF had heard about this information, but added that “we do not yet have the access we need to be able to check and see if We can help. “
Separately, the director noted that the educational process has suffered significantly from the war.
Read also: Learning during the war: wherever children study, their grades will be credited
“Hundreds of schools and educational institutions have been attacked or used for military purposes,” Fontaine said. “Others are a refuge for civilians.”
In addition, Ukrainian women and children are at increased risk of exploitation and trafficking, said the US Ambassador to the United Nations Linda Thomas-Greenfield at the UN Security Council.
See special topic: Russian occupiers use “living shields” in Zaporizhia and Kherson regions Fighting in civilian clothes is a sign of war crimes. Diplomat exposes Russian lies about “Point-U” during OSCE Council meeting in Vienna five children and 52 adults, blasphemous inscription “For children” was applied. Russia keeps withdrawn troops near borders, but there is no threat to Sumy region – Zhyvytskyi Now the aggressor is redeploying troops to attack in eastern Ukraine. “Bucha is a landscape of horror”: The New York Times published a map of civilian killings Russians killed recklessly, intensifying terror against civilians after each success of the Armed Forces. The Pentagon has reacted to the situation in Mariupol: it is checking the possibility of a chemical attack A similar check is being carried out by the United Kingdom.
