The physical and mental health of Ukrainian children, “in grave danger” while the war lasts, according to UNICEF
A boy on a swing in front of a missile-damaged residential building on February 25, in Kyiv, Ukraine. (Pierre Crom/Getty Images)
Russian attacks on critical infrastructure in Ukraine have put the physical and mental health of “almost every child” in the country “at desperate risk,” UNICEF warned on Wednesday.
As the war nears the ten-month mark, temperatures continue to drop and residents are left without sustained access to electricity, heat and water, the nearly seven million children in Ukraine are facing not only the extreme cold, but are also unable to access education and health care, UNICEF said in a statement.
“Millions of children face a bleak winter huddled in the cold and dark, with little idea of how or when respite may come,” said UNICEF Executive Director Catherine Russell.
“Beyond the immediate threats posed by freezing conditions, children are also deprived of the ability to learn or stay connected with friends and family, putting both their physical and mental health at desperate risk.”
Damaged sanitation facilities may be unable to provide critical services, while malfunctioning water systems “raise the already extremely high risks of pneumonia, seasonal flu, waterborne diseases and Covid-19,” UNICEF said.
In addition, a “bleak winter will also likely worsen the psychosocial situation of children, who are already facing an impending mental health crisis,” UNICEF said, with an estimated 1.5 million children at risk of depression, anxiety, disorders of post-traumatic stress and other mental conditions.
“The harsh winter, combined with the loss of income and the energy and socio-economic crisis caused by the war, are devastating for the well-being of children and families,” UNICEF said. He added that the situation is “particularly dire” for the 6.5 million people, including 1.2 million children, who are currently displaced within Ukraine.
Moscow unleashed a wave of attacks in recent months that has destroyed nearly 40% of Ukraine’s electricity production, “further exposing families to harsh winter conditions, affecting livelihoods and increasing the likelihood of produce new massive population displacements,” said UNICEF.
“The rules of war are clear: children and the essential civilian infrastructure on which they depend for survival must be protected,” Russell said.