Project Background
We’ve all been horrified by the reports of children being killed and injured
in Ukraine.
Heavy fighting and explosions across the country have forced terrified
children and their families into basements and bomb shelters. Children trapped
in crossfire and exposed to explosive weapons face the danger of being killed.
Cities under attack are without running water and food, leaving many children
hungry. More than 5.8 million people have fled the violence. Two-thirds of
children have fled their homes in Ukraine.
Every second, another child becomes a refugee.
Children fleeing the conflict struggle to access food and clean water. We
are especially worried about children travelling alone, who are at high risk of
abuse, trafficking and exploitation. Children’s futures are in danger. Air
strikes and explosions have damaged schools and hospitals, killing civilians
and making it hard for children to access health care and safe education. It
takes a global community to say enough is enough. Every war is a war against
children.
Project Overview
Save
the Children has been able to respond immediately since the beginning of the
Ukraine Crisis, providing children with life-saving essentials, protection and
assistance. We continue to respond quickly to a situation that is constantly
changing, both in Ukraine and in surrounding countries where families are
seeking refuge. Our trained teams in Ukraine are working alongside local
partners to provide essential items and support to families in dire need. We
are tirelessly looking for ways to expand our response in the country, where
it’s safe to do so.
We
have also continuing to provide support to children and families fleeing Ukraine
at border crossing points and reception centres including in Romania, Poland
and Lithuania with items and support they need.
This
funding will enable children to continue to support the children and families
effected by the crisis which could include:
- Life-saving
essentials such as food, clean water, critical basic hygiene supplies, winter
and NFI kits and shelter
- Providing
cash grants and voucher-based assistance to address basic needs
- Frontline
emergency units that can be deployed quickly in hard to reach places that are
set up to provide the quality medical care required in extreme conflict
situations
- Protection
support for children
- Mental
health and psychosocial support
- Assistance
with reuniting families that have been separated and providing support to
families to prevent separation
- Providing
safe and caring child-friendly spaces that enable children to play and learn
- Providing
online education in local languages to ensure the continuation of education
We will continue to ensure children have the
protection they need and run programs that help to minimise the long term
impacts of this crisis through education, recovery support and building
resilience.
Partners & Community Involvement
Save the Children has been operating in Eastern
Ukraine since 2014 and is scaling-up our life saving humanitarian support where
it is safe to do so. Through direct funding from Save the Children, local
partners in East, West and Central Ukraine are distributing essential
assistance including cash, wheat, food, wood, fuel, and diapers for children,
hygiene items, blankets, dignity and baby kits to support the needs of children
and families.
How does the project fits into a larger strategy
Here in Australia and around the world, we give a powerful voice to
children and champion their rights. As a global organisation, Save the Children
directly reaches 38.7 million of the world’s most vulnerable children in 117
countries. When disaster, disease or conflict strike, we’re often amongst the
first to arrive and the last to leave. Our specially trained teams can act
within 72-hours of a disaster to deliver immediate relief with life-saving
supplies and have the capacity to stay on to help children and families recover
in the longer term.