Half of Ukraine’s Children Displaced:
‘A Grim Milestone’

The following article was posted
March 24, 2022 12:20pm EDT
by Audrey Conklin foxnews.com
audry.conklin@fox.com

More than 4.3 million Ukrainian children — over half of the estimated 7.5 million children in the country — have been displaced due to Russia’s war, according to the U.N.

The 4.3 million figure represents more than 1.8 million refugee children who have crossed into neighboring countries and 2.5 million children who are internally displaced within Ukraine.

“The war has caused one of the fastest largescale displacements of children since World War II,” UNICEF Executive Director Catherine Russell said in a Thursday statement. “This is a grim milestone that could have lasting consequences for generations to come. Children’s safety, well-being and access to essential services are all under threat from non-stop horrific violence”.

Empty strollers were placed in neat rows at the Central Square in Lviv, Ukraine, March 17, to
symbolize children killed in the ongoing war.

(The following is as of March 24)
The World Health Organization (WHO) reports that Russian forces have executed 52 attacks against Ukrainian health care facilities over the last four weeks, and that Ukrainian Ministry of Education and Science estimates damage to more than 500 educational facilities. More than 450,000 children are in need of food and other support, according to UNICEF.

“In just a few weeks, the war has rocked such devastation for Ukraine’s children”, said Russell. “Children urgently need peace and protection. They need their rights. UNICEF continues to appeal for the immediate cease-fire and for the protection of children from harm. Essential infrastructure on which children depend, including hospitals, schools and buildings sheltering civilians, must never come under attack.”

More than 3.6 million Ukrainians have fled the country since February 24, with most fleeing to Poland, Romania, Moldova, Slovakia, and Hungary.