The war in Ukraine is disrupting the lives of millions of children and driving families apart. More than 6 million people have fled Ukraine since the conflict began on 24 February 2022, and more than 7.7 million have been displaced within the country. The displaced include 2.5 million children - of which, tens of thousands will have become separated from family and caregivers.
The disruption and collapse of essential civilian infrastructure has caused damage to water supply networks, waste management, transportation infrastructure, telecommunications, social services, healthcare, emergency services, education, electricity, the judicial system, and banking systems.
The situation is particularly desperate for the 160,000 Ukrainian children who live in alternative care settings. They are exposed to the danger of ground battles and bombing, often without supportive adults by their side.
SOS Children’s Villages has been responding to the humanitarian crisis in Ukraine since 2003, delivering essential assistance to vulnerable children and their families. We will continue our work in Ukraine as long as it takes - to save lives, reduce suffering, reunify and strengthen families, and maintain dignity among crisis-affected Ukrainians.
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How SOS Children’s Villages is responding
SOS Children’s Villages is rapidly scaling up to respond to the needs of approximately 500,000 vulnerable children and families impacted by the conflict. Our holistic emergency response in Ukraine includes:
- Relocation assistance and safe shelter: In coordination with partners such as UNICEF, we support vulnerable families displaced by the conflict with cash assistance to covers costs associated with travel, safe housing, and associated costs.
- Health and food assistance: Through the provision of cash assistance, we help conflict affected families access food, clean water, hygiene materials and essential medical supplies and services.
- Trauma care and mental health support: We provide mental health and psychosocial support to children, parents, and frontline staff.
- Protection from harm: Our emergency response team works alongside local governments and partners to keep children and families safe.
- Family reunification: We coordinate with national governments and other humanitarian actors to identify, assist, and reunify children who have been separated from their families.
The situation on the ground in Ukraine is evolving rapidly, and locations under attack are widespread. SOS Children’s Villages will update its response accordingly, particularly with respect to protection, shelter, nutrition, and mental health of affected children and families, and refugees.
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How You Can Help
Canadians wishing to help children and families affected by the conflict in Ukraine are encouraged to make a financial donation.
Please click here to donate now.
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About SOS Children's Villages in the Ukraine
SOS Children’s Villages began working in Ukraine in 2003, and in 2010 opened the first SOS Children’s Village in Brovary, Kyiv region. The work in Luhansk region, eastern Ukraine, began in 2012, and was reorganised in 2014 to respond to the needs of children and families on both sides of the contact line. The programme in Luhansk City (the non-government-controlled area) is to close by April 2022. Programs of SOS Children's Villages in Ukraine include:
- Family Strengthening: Since 2003 we have been supporting families who are at risk of breaking down. The help we provide varies depending on the needs of each family but can include counselling, social and material support. We also run workshops on topics relating to child protection and health.
- Foster Family Care: Children without parental care find a loving home in one of the SOS families. The families have the legal status of "foster families" and receive all the support they need from SOS Children's Villages. We also provide short-term care for children in crisis situations. The children stay with us (usually less than six months) until they can return to their families or move to another form of family-based care.
- Emergency Response: We support both families who are living in the conflict areas and those who have been internally displaced. We provide medical, educational, and social support. The need for psychotherapy has tri[1]pled since autumn 2015. In 2015, and despite the dangerous working conditions, we reached over 300 internally displaced children in the Kyiv region and over 160 in the Lugansk region.
- Youth Program: We support young people to gain the necessary skills and develop their talents to help them find employment and become independent.
- Advocacy: SOS Children's Villages works with the government and other agencies to promote social reform that improves the rights of children in the country.
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Latest news by SOS on the Ukraine crisis
- May 16: First days of school in Austria after fleeing Ukraine: A new home, a new language, the same lunch breaks
- May 12: A day center for Ukraine refugees set up at Vienna Central Station, including a child-friendly space
- April 6: Displaced Ukrainian children find refuge in SOS Children’s Villages across Europe
- March 29: Uncertain but adapting: Four Ukrainian mothers reflect on their new daily reality in Romania
- March 18: SOS Children’s Villages welcomes announcement of Canadian aid for Ukraine and neighbouring countries
- March 9: Urgent action needed to protect and care for children at the heart of the Ukraine crisis
- March 8: At the heart of the crisis: Interview with Darya Kasyanova, National Program Director, SOS Ukraine
- March 6: Children and families flee warzone to SOS Children's Villages in Poland and Romania
- March 4: SOS psychologist describes the war’s devastating impact on Ukraine’s children
- March 2: Millions of children in Ukraine risk growing up without the care they need
- February 28: SOS Children’s Villages Ukraine Humanitarian Response (PDF)
- February 28: Emerging refugee crisis in Ukraine: How SOS cares for children separated from their families
- February 24: Ukraine: Situation Report, 24 February 2022
- February 24: War in Ukraine: “We are on the side of children”
- February 22: Ukraine: One SOS office and social center closed and staff evacuated
- February 15: Ukraine: We will keep helping children and families
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How You Can Help
Canadians wishing to help children and families affected by the conflict in Ukraine are encouraged to make a financial donation.
Please click here to donate now.