According to the UNICEF and the UNHCR, children make up more than half of the refugees that came from the ongoing war in Ukraine. About 1.1 million children have arrived in various places like Poland, Romania, Moldavia, and much more, seeking help and clarity. More than 2.5 million children have been displaced within Ukraine, more than 100 have been killed, and around 134 have been injured. The number of children fleeing their homes and becoming refugees has alarmingly increased.
This is the dark reality for 25-year-old Tetiana, her 5-year-old son, and her husband. Tetiana and her family had been living in a neighborhood that was placed between the Varvarovsky bridge and a military base, which put them in a position of being more likely to get attacked during the bombings. Tetiana says that she thought everybody was crazy for getting canned goods and candles to prepare for “lockdown”, but little did she know what the future held.
On February 22, 2022, the family was awaned to the sound of bombing around 5 a.m. and quickly realized they needed to be out of Ukraine in order to save themselves. Tetiana decided on fleeing to Maldova, taking her son with her. Her husband said the only thing he cared about was that Tetiana and their son were safe, so he stayed back. Tetiana travelled with her sister, nephew, friend, and her friends son. After an exhausting 12-hour journey, they arrived to warm welcomes in Maldova.
The UNICEF director, Catherine Russell, says “We must remember that every single one of them needs protection, education, safety, and support.” As of March 2022, 114 trucks have been dispatched which are carrying a whopping 1,275 metric tons of emergency supplies to aid the families and citizens of Ukraine. Collective efforts across the world are being made to help those in need, including refugee hosting countries, as well as money transferring programs which supports around 52,000 of the families of Ukraine. All the efforts are not wasted, as they create something of a “safe haven” for all that have been affected.
https://plan-international.org/publications/young-people-on-the-war-in-ukraine/
