The war in Ukraine has resulted in one of the fastest-growing refugee crises since World War II. One-third of the country has been forced to leave home. Millions of children are displaced both inside Ukraine and in Poland, Moldova, Romania and other refugee-hosting neighboring countries.

Children and families are facing food and water shortages and a lack of access to essential health services. They are unable to learn. With winter approaching, their lives are at an even greater risk. UNICEF is working on the ground to help mitigate the devastating consequences of the war and to help ensure a better future for Ukraine’s children.

How UNICEF is helping the people of Ukraine

UNICEF is providing emergency support for children and families inside Ukraine and those who’ve fled to refugee-hosting countries. UNICEF’s programming covers safety, nutrition, health, safe drinking water and education. The organization has brought on additional staff to help with the increased humanitarian need since the war began.

UNICEF is focusing on addressing children’s immediate needs, including making sure children inside Ukraine and those in neighboring countries have access to safe drinking water, food and shelter, while also working to protect children’s rights in the long term.

War in Ukraine’s impact on children

The war in Ukraine has had a devastating impact on children’s health, well-being and development and will be felt for generations. Children have been displaced from their homes inside Ukraine and in neighboring countries. Many have lost loved ones and caretakers to the war. Many fear for their safety or are unable to return to school. Children and women are at increased risk of gender-based violence when they are on the move, sheltering or seeking asylum.

What support services are interrupted by the war in Ukraine?

Hundreds of essential buildings like hospitals, schools and kindergartens across the country have been damaged or destroyed. Millions of children cannot return to school or do not have access to the technology or electricity to continue learning online.

More than 13 million refugees have fled Ukraine — over 90 percent of them women and children. Inside the country, over seven million people are internally displaced, including 2.8 million children.

Millions of families cannot access health care, safe drinking water, food and social services. Ukrainian child refugees who are travelling alone or are separated from parents or other adult caregivers are more vulnerable to trafficking, sexual and labor exploitation and abuse, and are in need of increased psychosocial services and protection.

How does UNICEF help Ukraine?

UNICEF is on the ground helping Ukraine with critical care and support for children and families. Some highlights of UNICEF’s recent work include:

Supporting Ukrainian children with a healthy childhood

  • supporting health care facilities and maternity wards so that children and women can access adequate and safe health care
  • distributing kits with everything needed for a baby’s first month to thousands of new parents
  • reaching children and families in conflict-affected areas with mobile teams of doctors, nurses and psychologists
  • providing safe drinking water to millions of Ukrainians with water treatment chemicals, distributing bottled water and improving water availability

Protecting children and their futures

  • providing children inside Ukraine who have been separated from their families with reunification support
  • establishing Spilno (“together” in Ukrainian) Spots across Ukraine to provide support services for children and their caregivers
  • building safe havens across seven bordering refugee-hosting countries that provide Ukrainians fleeing the country with shelter, food, information, essential services and a safe place for children to play
  • reaching millions of people with critical messages about their rights and information on how to access essential services

Helping Ukrainian children receive an education

  • establishing an online platform that provides formal and non-formal education to children whose education has been interrupted by the war
  • providing school supplies such as school-in-a-box kits to thousands of children
  • providing laptops for teachers whose schools have been destroyed by the war to help them continue to provide students with an education
  • working to rebuild schools that have been destroyed so students can return to in-person learning in areas where it is safe

What can I do to help support Ukraine’s children?

The war in Ukraine has led to unprecedented needs from vulnerable children and families. Support UNICEF’s efforts to deliver essential nutrition and health services, protection and education to vulnerable children in Ukraine and in neighboring refugee-hosting countries. Donate today.

Frequently Asked Questions

How many children have been displaced since the start of the crisis?

Millions of Ukrainian families fled the country, fearing for their lives and safety since the war started on February 24, 2022. The number of refugees has only continued to rise since then. A total of 13.9 million Ukrainians are displaced, including seven million who are internally displaced in Ukraine and 6.9 million refugees recorded across Europe.

Are children in Ukraine able to return to school?

As the school year begins, four million children in Ukraine are unsure whether they will be able to resume learning. Many schools have been destroyed and others are unsafe to inhabit. Fewer than 60 percent of schools can be reopened safely. UNICEF is working with partners to ensure as many children as possible can resume learning, whether online or in person.

How is the war in Ukraine affecting families?

The war in Ukraine has separated families, creating devastating immediate and long-term consequences for children and caregivers. Around 90% of the Ukrainian refugees are women and children, while men between the ages of 18 and 60 are mandated to stay in the country.

Further Reading

How UNICEF Built a Supply Pipeline to Support Response to Ukraine War

Since the war started, UNICEF has delivered more than 8,500 metric tons of lifesaving items to Ukraine, including health kits with medicine and first aid equipment and water purification tablets.

Humanitarian Cash Transfers Provide Vital Aid for Ukraine’s Families

Families in Ukraine are facing impossible circumstances. UNICEF has distributed $125 million in emergency cash assistance to families with children in Ukraine. Through this program, caretakers receive fast and flexible funding they can use to meet the most urgent needs of their children.

Getting Ukraine’s Children Back to Learning Is a UNICEF Priority

As the school year begins, four million children in Ukraine are left in limbo, wondering if their school is still standing or whether it’s safe to go to school. UNICEF is on the ground working with partners to ensure children can continue receiving an education.