UNICEF Impact in Ukraine
Millions have been reached through UNICEF's humanitarian relief efforts in the past three years of full-scale war in Ukraine.
When conflict in Ukraine sharply escalated three years ago this week, there was an immediate outpouring of support from donors.
With that funding, UNICEF — an organization entirely dependent on voluntary contributions from individuals, governments and other entities both public and private — was able to rapidly expand its presence inside Ukraine, quickly deploy emergency relief measures and rev up programs started years before.
Related: UNICEF in Ukraine
Millions of children and their families have received lifesaving and life-sustaining support and protection thanks to these donor-supported interventions. Since Feb. 24, 2022, with UNICEF support:
- more than 5 million children and women have accessed primary health services
- over 1.45 million children have been reached with formal and non-formal education, including early learning
- close to 3 million children, adolescents and caregivers have received mental health support
- nearly 5.8 million people, including over 958,000 children, have accessed clean drinking water
Working with the Ministry of Social Policy and local authorities, UNICEF has reached nearly 310,000 households with humanitarian cash assistance in the last three years. Hundreds of thousands more children and women in refugee-hosting countries in Europe have been reached with essential services as well.
Related: Cash Transfers a Lifeline for Ukraine's Children This Winter
Needs remain immense as full-scale war in Ukraine enters its fourth year. An estimated 2.9 million children still need humanitarian assistance. Two out of three children are living in poverty, and millions remained displaced.
"No place is safe," said Toby Fricker, UNICEF Ukraine Chief of Advocacy and Communication, at a Feb. 21 press briefing. "Schools, maternity wards, children's hospitals, all have been affected by attacks. Children suffer even when they survive."
The impact of war on education has been profound. Thousands of schools have been damaged or destroyed, and many students struggle to keep up due to displacement, unsafe learning environments, limited access to technology and the psychological toll of war.
One in five children in Ukraine has lost a relative or friend since the escalation of war three years ago, a UNICEF survey found. One in three teenagers reports feeling so sad or hopeless that they stop engaging in their usual activities. The lack of social connection exacerbates these challenges, as many schools near frontline areas remain closed, and frequent air raid alarms force students to spend hours underground.
UNICEF remains committed to staying and delivering for children and families in need amid ongoing conflict and uncertainty. A humanitarian action plan for 2025 details funding needs across sectors, and how UNICEF is well positioned to meet urgent needs while also paving the way toward recovery, working alongside local governments and its many other partners.
Supporting children's education remains a top priority for UNICEF in Ukraine. More than just acquiring knowledge, attending school is important for building resilience and other critical life skills, and maintaining hope for the future. UNICEF and partners are working to ensure every child in Ukraine can continue learning by repairing and improving school shelters, providing learning materials, training teachers to address learning gaps, offering catch-up classes and strengthening both in-person and online education.
For more info, see UNICEF's Ukraine and Refugee Response Appeal
"Investing in children and young people across the country ... is non-negotiable, not only because it's the right thing to do for their protection and well-being, but for the future of Ukraine," Fricker said. "What’s ultimately needed is a real and sustained peace in which every child can realize their rights."
Learn more: read Three years of full-scale war in Ukraine, a new UNICEF report.
HOW TO HELP
There are many ways to make a difference
War, famine, poverty, natural disasters — threats to the world's children keep coming. But UNICEF won't stop working to keep children healthy and safe.
UNICEF works in over 190 countries and territories — more places than any other children's organization. UNICEF has the world's largest humanitarian warehouse and, when disaster strikes, can get supplies almost anywhere within 72 hours. Constantly innovating, always advocating for a better world for children, UNICEF works to ensure that every child can grow up healthy, educated, protected and respected.
Would you like to help give all children the opportunity to reach their full potential? There are many ways to get involved.
