“Half of the Ukrainians who have crossed the borders are children”, explains, Tuesday May 4 on franceinfo, Ann Avril, director general of Unicef. According to her, “It’s almost a child every second, for two months, who has crossed the borders of his country”. It calls on neighboring countries to welcome these children “in the best possible conditions” and to “continue the momentum of solidarity”.
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franceinfo: Dozens of people arrived in Zaporijjia, a city still under the control of the Ukrainian authorities, after being evacuated from Mariupol where they had taken refuge for weeks in the Azovstal factory. Among them children. How to take care of them?
Anne April: These children are very traumatized. They need two things. They need to be put in safety, sheltered from bombs and they need material security which must be provided to them urgently. This is what we do at Unicef with all the humanitarian organizations that are present on the spot. For the moment, sheltering them with humanitarian corridors is possible. It is still uncertain. These are a few dozen children. But above all, it is absolutely important that we can quickly overcome this trauma by putting them in safety, by offering them care, food, water, access to hygiene. These are basics for all of us, but of which they have been totally deprived for several weeks.
In April, there are more than 7,700,000 Ukrainians who had to flee their homes and more than five and a half million who fled their country. Among all these people, how many children are there?
About half of the Ukrainians who have crossed the borders are children. That is to say that it is almost a child every second who, for two months, has crossed the borders of his country. Leaving without knowing when they could return, often with a mother or grandparents. It is absolutely essential that we, neighboring countries, I am speaking of Europe in general, be able to welcome them in the best possible conditions. At Unicef, we have set up in all the neighboring countries, arrangements to welcome these children. Above all, it is very important to continue the momentum of solidarity that has begun. That is to say, to make donations, to continue the support that everyone can give to Ukrainian children. Every gesture counts. A donation of 20 euros or 50 euros is important and it is translated materially on the ground by actions for Unicef and for Unicef’s partners.
Are there children who have fled their home, their region without their parents?
The subject of unaccompanied children is very important. They are even more vulnerable than other children and it is very important that they are referred to the authorities of the countries which will receive them so that they are taken care of in reception structures which are dedicated to these children. They are particularly vulnerable to trafficking problems, which are quite common in this type of situation.
How do you distribute the reception of these children?
The priority for the children of Ukraine is peace. These children do not deserve what happened. Unicef will alleviate the effects of the war, but we will not stop the war. We must be able to hope that peace will return as soon as possible so that these children can rebuild a sustainable future in their country. Unicef estimates that there are 2.2 million children who are in danger in Ukraine, that is to say who need humanitarian assistance, relief, basic care to survive and who are therefore immediately in danger. There are hundreds, probably still in Mariupol, in Odessa. It is essential that these 2.2 million children have access to emergency aid. And that’s what we do. There are several thousand children who are welcomed in France. There are a little more every day and they are very well integrated. We can rejoice that French society and the French State welcome them as normally as possible.