Nearly two-thirds of Ukraine’s children have fled their homes since the start of Russia’s invasion on February 24, according to the United Nations’ children’s agency, as the organization has verified at least 142 child deaths in the war-torn nation.
UNICEF Emergency Programmes Director Manuel Fontaine shared the report at a security briefing on the humanitarian situation in Ukraine on Monday.
“I met families in Zaporizhzhia who told me that they wanted to stay in their homes but were forced to flee when the shelling and violence became too much. Thousands of others now are trying to leave before the fighting closes in around them. They face further dangers along the way – missiles, crossfire and explosive remnants,” Fontaine told those attending the briefing.
"Every day the war continues, children will continue to suffer."@UNICEF's @Manuel_Fontaine's remarks at the Security Council briefing on the humanitarian situation in #Ukrainehttps://t.co/Aby6sIAh2y pic.twitter.com/bt2jxYcmIE
— UNICEF Media (@UNICEFmedia) April 11, 2022
“In just six weeks, nearly two-thirds of all Ukrainian children have been displaced. They have been forced to leave everything behind: Their homes, their schools, and often, their family members,” he added.
Fontaine added that the situation remains grim for many of the children who have remained in their homes across Ukraine.
“Of the 3.2 million children estimated to have remained in their homes, nearly half may be at risk of not having enough food. Attacks on water system infrastructure and power outages have left an estimated 1.4 million people without access to water in Ukraine. Another 4.6 million people have only limited access.”
“The situation is even worse in cities like Mariupol and Kherson, where children and their families have now gone weeks without running water and sanitation services, a regular supply of food, and medical care. They are sheltering in their homes and underground, waiting for the bombs and violence to stop,” he said.
As of Sunday, the deaths of at least 142 children and the injuries of 229 children had been verified, though the totals will likely increase.
“As of yesterday, OHCHR has verified 142 children killed and 229 children injured. We know these numbers are likely much higher — and many of them were caused by crossfire or the use of explosive weapons in populated areas,” Fontaine noted.
Ukrainian Ambassador to the U.N. Sergiy Kyslystsya claimed that Russia has taken more than 121,000 children out of Ukraine.
“He said most of the children were removed from the besieged southern port city of Mariupol and taken to eastern Donetsk and then to the Russian city of Taganrog,” according to the Associated Press. Fontaine noted the reports but said he had been unable to verify the numbers.
The report comes as Mariupol Mayor Vadym Boychenko said on Monday that more than 10,000 civilians have died in the Ukrainian city since Russia’s invasion, according to a new report. The Daily Wire reported:
Boychenko told the Associated Press on Monday that the bodies continue to be counted throughout Mariupol and that the final count could exceed 20,000 deaths.
“Boychenko also said Russian forces have brought mobile crematoria to the city to dispose of the bodies and accused Russian forces of refusing to allow humanitarian convoys into the city in an attempt to disguise the carnage,” the AP reported.