Support Children and Families in Ukraine

by UNICEF USA

Project Report | Feb 8, 2023
Update: Providing Hope for Children in Ukraine

By Whitney Simon | Assistant Director, Global Cause Partnerships

Nastya (7); UNICEF/UN0760161/Pashkina

Dear Friend,

This marks one year of war in Ukraine, and our hearts continue to break for children and families suffering, especially as they battle freezing winter while enduring the dangers of war. I cannot thank you enough for your life-changing support. Your generous gift has truly made a meaningful difference in the lives of millions of children and mothers within Ukraine and neighboring countries.

With your support, over 4.9 million children and women have been able to access primary care and over 4.6 million people have been provided safe drinking water within Ukraine. In addition, last month alone, more than 3,000 sets of winter clothes were delivered to children and families who needed them the most.

While the winter and war rage on, you are helping children and their caregivers find hope and cheer despite it all. At the Spilno Child Spot in Kharkiv subway which is run by UNICEF and partners, hundreds of displaced and local children were able to celebrate the new year. Below ground, the Spilno Child Spot has music, toys, coloring pencils and games. It is a world away from the ongoing war above. Thousands of Kharkiv residents took shelter here at the beginning of the full-scale war in Ukraine, like seven-year-old Nastya and her mother. At the height of the violence, they lived in the subway station for two months.

"Nastya knew that the war had started, and she cried,” says Kateryna, her mother. “It was difficult to explain to her why we didn't live a normal life, why she didn't go to school and didn't see her friends or classmates.”

The night of New Year’s Eve, at the Spilno Child Spot, Nastya and her mother returned as partygoers. Nastya was particularly spellbound by the festive Christmas tree covered with snow, decorated with lights and a bow on top. She has big dreams for the future.

“I study in the second grade, I love math, reading and Ukrainian. I study online. I want to become a policewoman because it's a very cool profession! I also wish for peace for our city.”

We wish for peace too and will continue to do everything possible to make sure that kids like Nastya get the care they need. Thank you for standing with us and enabling UNICEF to provide this critical support.

With gratitude,

Whitney Simon

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Oct 12, 2022
Update: Six Months into the War in Ukraine

By Whitney Simon | Assistant Director, Global Cause Partnerships

Dear Friend,

Six months in, the war in Ukraine shows no signs of lessening with fighting concentrated in eastern and southern Ukraine. At least 17.7 million people - nearly one-third of the country’s population – are in need. Three million of those in need are children.

UNICEF has been working with partners in Ukraine since 1997 and supporting the humanitarian response in eastern Ukraine since 2014. To meet the immediate humanitarian needs of children and families since February 2022, UNICEF has expanded its presence on the ground across the country. This year, UNICEF and partners plan to reach at least 6.7 million people, including 2.8 million children. UNICEF works to ensure that all children – whether trapped in active conflict areas, displaced within the country, or living as refugees – have equitable access to services and, with your support, has achieved the following results:

Since February 24, over 3.9 million people in Ukraine have received access to health care using supplies delivered by UNICEF and partners.
Since the war began,UNICEF WASH programs have ensured access to safe water for nearly 3.5 million people
UNICEF and partners in Ukraine rapidly implemented a comprehensive set of online, in-person and group mental health and psychosocial service that reached more than 1.7 million people
1,081,214 children accessed formal or non-formal education, including early learning, in Ukraine and neighboring countries

Thanks to your generosity, UNICEF and partners continue to address the needs of children and families in Ukraine and neighboring countries including Poland, Moldova, Romania, Slovakia, Bulgaria, Belarus, Italy, and Croatia.

As families in Ukraine and neighboring countries face the winter months ahead andhostilities continue, significant concerns for children’s survival remain. Due to the damage and destruction of homes, and the overall lack of access to electricity and oil, families will struggle to heat their homes or have adequate shelter. With your continued support, UNICEF will remain in Ukraine providing families with vital services and supplies in preparation for the piercing cold that lies ahead.

As always, thank you for standing with children and their communities during the most complex, challenging times.

Many Thanks,

Whitney

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Jun 27, 2022
The Impact You've Made for Children in Ukraine

By Whitney Simon | Assistant Director, Global Cause Partnerships

Dear Friend,

I hope this message finds you staying safe and well. Thank you again for your incredible support of UNICEF’s work. Your generosity has made a world of difference for vulnerable children and caregivers both within Ukraine and those seeking refuge in neighboring countries. Below is a sample of your impact:

24 Blue Dot Centers are operational with a capacity of reaching 500 kids per day with mental health and psychosocial support, social protection services, education, health and water, sanitation and hygiene services
Over 1.5 million people reached with primary health care in Ukraine
More than 1.3 million people ensured access to safe drinking water in Ukraine
334,099 children and caregivers in Ukraine reached with face-to-face and online group and individual psychological counseling

In addition to meeting immediate needs for safe water, health care, protection services and nutrition, UNICEF’s emergency response also includes mental health support for children and their caregivers. Children's mental health and psychosocial support programs have long been a key component of UNICEF's emergency relief efforts for kids living in conflict zones including Syrian, Ethiopian and Rohingya children, among many others. Children who have been uprooted and otherwise traumatized by war require mental health and psychosocial support.

In the image above taken last month in Medyka, Poland, Kira stands inside a tent after crossing over the border from Ukraine with her mother, Marina, her aunt, and cousins (Kiril, 5, and Dasha, 11). They fled their home city of Sumy, in the northeast of Ukraine, due to constant bombardment, where children were among those killed during attacks. Her family plans to settle, at least temporarily, in the city of Katowice in southern Poland. There are millions of children who are processing seeing war up close like Kira, and with your help, UNICEF and partners are providing them with specialized care.

That’s why every Blue Dot Center set up by UNICEF and UNHCR, in cooperation with local authorities and partners, contains a designated space where kids can just be kids for a while. These play areas have mental health and psychosocial support workers trained to comfort children and help them recover from the trauma they have experienced. While there, children can play and draw in a child-friendly space stocked with games, toys and art supplies.

In Partnership,

Whitney

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