Europe and Central Asia

Some 35,170 children arrived in Bulgaria, Cyprus, Greece, Italy, Malta and Spain. Of these, 23,514  or 67% were unaccompanied or separated children. This is 46% higher than the total number of arrivals in 2021. Of these children 18% were girls and 82% were boys. Some 12,300 children or 52% of the total, were in resettlement procedures in Europe in…

Bringing a new life into the world is a remarkable journey but it also comes with its own set of challenges. From sleepless nights to worrying about the child’s wellbeing and safety, motherhood requires a lot of adjustment and strength. For refugee mothers, this journey is even more challenging. Living in constant uncertainty, they experience…, Guidance and support, “Mothers who come to Poland because of the war need a lot of support, especially emotional support, language help and even a kind word,” says Olga Stetsiuk. “Mothers who come to Poland because of the war need a lot of support, especially emotional support, language help and even a kind word.” Olga works as a lactation specialist in Ujastek…

“Getting financial aid in cash works for me. I save this money to buy clothes, books and food,” fifteen-year-old Alissa says. Alissa loves living in Kragujevac, the Serbian city that “adopted” her since arriving from Ukraine in March last year. She fled war in her native city of Kharkiv with her mother Julia and grandmother Natalia. “I thought it…

GENEVA/NEW YORK, 14 June 2023 – By the end of 2022, a record 43.3 million children lived in forced displacement, according to UNICEF estimates, many of them for their entire childhood. The number of children forcibly displaced from their homes doubled in the last decade, outpacing efforts to include and protect refugee and internally displaced…

The escalation of the war in Ukraine in February 2022 changed everything overnight. It robbed children and families in Ukraine of everything that was “normal” for them. Seeing the huge numbers of mainly women and children fleeing their country did not leave anyone cold. Slovakia responded quickly, effectively, and compassionately. Volunteers,…

The Humanitarian Center in Gabčíkovo is a very contrasting place. Freezing corridors and warm rooms; a constant silence broken by the echoing noise of closing doors. Smiling children run and play together, but their families are torn apart by the war. Initially a temporary solution; now a continued reality for those who have nowhere else to go.…, Helping others: Yulia’s distraction , Yulia first arrived in Gabčíkovo with her 10-year-old son Artemy in the middle of March 2022, almost a year ago, leaving behind her husband and her routine, scared and uncertain about the future.  Artemy was not happy to leave his home country and move abroad, but things got a bit better when they were joined by Yulia's mother.  Yulia, a former…, The children are still scared , Karine has been in Gabčíkovo for almost a year now. Originally from Odessa, she also arrived in Slovakia in March 2022, together with her children and sister.    Karine, a kindergarten teacher from Odessa, Ukraine, in her class in Humanitarian Center in Gabčíkovo. Karine, a kindergarten teacher from Odessa, Ukraine, in her class in Humanitarian…, A contrasting place indeed   , "On the one hand, Gabčíkovo is convenient because refugees have everything here,” explains Katka, a social worker at the centre. “If they have any problems, they can sort them out here: they don't have to go anywhere; everything is in one place. On the other hand, it makes it more difficult for them to integrate.”    Social workers Katka, Melinda…, I just want to take my dog on a trip  , A completely different glimpse into everyday life in Gabčíkovo is offered by Marianna, a 15-year-old girl who fled Kramatorsk, close to the frontline in Eastern Ukraine, with her family eleven months ago.    She and her family did not plan to stay in Slovakia for long. This is the main reason why Marianna initially did not enroll in a Slovak…, The end of the war with a magic wand   , Samuel and Anastasia, both 8 years old, like Gabčíkovo, especially when the volunteers come and play with them. Like many kids their age, they are not too fond of going to school or attending their Slovak language course, which is a must for all children until the age of 15.  Anastasia is playing in the kindergarten room in Gačíkovo Humanitarian…

“When I heard what had happened, I was shocked,” says Natalia, as she recalls the first time she heard about the war in Ukraine. “Living close to the border, I quickly started to see what arriving refugees were going through. Children were the most affected,” she continues.  Having witnessed such level of suffering, Natalia started to look for a…, Being there and listening , Natalia points to a colorful room full of children that are busy playing. "We are here for them every day, 7 days a week,” she declares. As she says, often less is more. People coming to the Blue Dot just need someone that shows them they are not alone: "Some don’t need complex psychological help; just someone that listens to them when they talk…, Children, a bright light in a tunnel of doubt  , Despite her commitment to support Ukrainian children, Natalia did not remain untouched by doubt. Meeting all those refugees, especially mothers and children, who had to flee their homes and abandon their husbands and fathers, poses a great emotional challenge: “I asked myself how long I could keep going, many times.”  It was her colleagues, their…

By 9am, the waiting room of the Rovniankova clinic in Bratislava is already crowded. The clinic is one of the four clinics in Slovakia designated to provide primary health care to Ukrainian refugees in Slovakia.  Tatiana, a Slovak pediatrician, is busy running from one door to the other. Alongside Tatiana work 10 Ukrainian doctors whom she…, The hardship of everyday reality , Tatiana begins her story recalling the moment she heard about the war. She was in the hospital, giving birth to her third daughter: "One realizes how terrible it must be for those people who are at the epicentre of the war. Having a newborn, I could not even imagine how hard it must be for mothers to flee their homes with small babies."  As a…, Being a doctor is a never-ending mission , Helping and protecting children is Tatiana’s lifelong mission, as well as a strong motivation to continue: "Children are a universe; everything else is irrelevant. We must take care of every one of them. It’s our job to create a new home for them. If we do not do it, then who will?" She asks and pays her attention to the little baby girl, who came…

The silence is broken by the ring of a bell, exclamations and laughter. The class is over. The hallways of the Taras Shevchenko Joint School in Prešov, in East Slovakia, suddenly fill up with walking students of all ages, from kindergarten to high school.   A year ago, as Slovakia was enjoying some bank holidays, Nikola was watching the news at…, I never wanted to stop , The Taras Shevchenko Joint School in Prešov is the only school in Slovakia that teaches in the bilingual combination Slovak and Ukrainian, so it always had children from both Ukrainian and Slovak families. This was a winning combination, as the lack of language barrier in the school made it easier for Ukrainian children who fled to Slovakia to…, Children are not to be blamed , Over the past year, there have been various emotions and many questions about the future. Though, Nikola is clear about one thing: "None of us would want to be on the other side. If there is a problem or such a situation, we need to imagine how they feel and how we would feel if we were in their place.“  She becomes emotional as she watches the…

"My first thoughts turned immediately to my family and friends, wondering what I would do if I were in this situation," says Colonel Tejgi, recalling his reaction to the news that war had broken out in Ukraine on 24 February 2022. "Of course, we saw some signals, but I did not believe this would happen until the very last minute." From that moment…, Firefighters are humans too , The additional hours spent at the border took many firefighters away from their usual tasks. As Col. Tejgi says, witnessing the suffering of the thousands of people that crossed the border each day took an emotional toll to the team: "I worked in the corps for 32 years and I have never seen such extreme exhaustion. There was no time to prepare; we…, The look in their eyes is satisfaction itself , As the war is ongoing, refugees crossing the Slovak-Ukrainian border are still a constant. Despite of the exhaustion, Col. Tejgi remains hopeful and determined to keep doing his part: “What motivates us to continue our support is the hope we see in the eyes of children and other refugees,” he says. “I know that if we would be in this situation,…

“When I see Anastasia out there, I know I can be sure everything is under control,” says Andrea, coordinator of the CATTIA Blue Dot Centre for Ukrainian refugees in Brasov, Romania, while she dynamically walks through the bright hallways of the two-storey building that hosts the hub. Nastia follows behind. Her voice resounds just above those of…

KYIV/NEW YORK, 1 September 2022 – The ongoing war in Ukraine has marred the start of a new school year for Ukraine’s four million schoolchildren, stated UNICEF Executive Director Catherine Russell as she concluded a three-day visit across the country.  “The new school year should be a time of excitement and promise, as children re-enter the…