Guidance for protecting displaced and refugee children in and outside of Ukraine
1 November 2022 The war in Ukraine has had a devastating impact on children and led to the fastest and largest displacement since WWII. Children and their families have been forced to flee their homes – some seeking safety in other parts of the country, others taking refuge in neighbouring nations. Roughly half of those displaced are children.…, 1. What risks do children displaced by the war in Ukraine face?, Whenever children are driven from their homes by conflict, their exposure to danger escalates. This is particularly the case for children separated from their parents or caregivers. As fighting continues, they have few – or no – options to move through safe pathways, whether on their own or with their families. While in flight or when arriving at…, 2. Are any of these children unaccompanied?, Many displaced children in and outside of Ukraine are unaccompanied or have been separated from their parents, family members, or legal guardians. Children without parental care and children with disabilities face a higher risk of family separation, violence, abuse and exploitation. Without an adult to take care of them, children who are…, 3. What’s happening to children in institutional care?, Nearly 100,000 children , half of them with disabilities, lived in institutional care prior to the escalation of violence in Ukraine. Many of these children have living relatives or legal guardians. In the first 7 months of the conflict, 38,800 were returned to their parents or other legal guardians. 1,611 were relocated to other areas inside…, 4. How should institutions and care facilities in Ukraine move children to safety?, Recent intensified attacks on civilian infrastructure in Ukraine will have profound impacts on children’s access to basic services over the coming months. Humanitarian evacuations of some children living in institutions may be necessary and lifesaving. Those legally responsible for children in institutions in Ukraine must ensure that such…, 5. What should neighbouring countries do to protect unaccompanied children, including children evacuated from institutions?, UNICEF, together with UNHCR, urges all neighbouring and impacted countries to ensure the immediate identification and registration of unaccompanied and separated children fleeing from Ukraine, after allowing them access to their territory. Registration includes four relevant components: 1) registration at the border upon arriving in a neighboring…, 6. Should countries host children from Ukraine who do not have parental care in summer camps outside of the country?, UNICEF does not support or recommend cross-border movements for recreational purposes, as this risks children being separated from their families, can delay reunification, and poses other risks during a time of conflict. For children already residing as refugees with their families in a host country, recreational activities inside that country,…, 7. Can children fleeing the war be adopted?, Children separated from their parents during a humanitarian emergency cannot be assumed to be orphans and are not available for adoption. For this reason, adoption should not occur during or immediately after emergencies. Children have a right to an identity, including the right to know and be cared for by their parents. Until the whereabouts of a…, 8. What about children transferred to the Russian Federation?, A significant number of unaccompanied and separated children – including children from institutions – have reportedly arrived in the Russian Federation. The figures cited by authorities vary, and UNICEF has not been able to independently verify them. Various authorities report that thousands of family reunification requests have been filed – an…, 9. Is it safe for children to return to Ukraine?, Generally, no. The war in Ukraine continues to pose a risk to children, not only in the form of direct physical harm but also through its collateral impact on vital infrastructure like power, water, and other life-sustaining services. For this reason, the government of Ukraine has urged its citizens to remain abroad for the time being if they have…, 10. What are Blue Dots?, “Blue Dots” are UNICEF and UNHCR-supported safe spaces set up along displacement routes to provide children and families with critical information and services. Blue Dots ensure families are aware of their rights as refugees in the host country and help them access health care, education, mental health and psychosocial support and more. They…, 11. What about the risk of trafficking?, Many refugees – the vast majority, women and children – arrive in neighboring countries under unthinkable duress. They are hungry, exhausted, distressed and may not speak the local language. These groups are at heightened risk of trafficking in human beings. Amidst the chaos and confusion, they may be unknowingly approached by traffickers who are…, 12. How can volunteers and Good Samaritans help protect children from trafficking?, Volunteers and volunteer organizations in and around host communities have turned out by the thousands to welcome refugees and guide them to safety in the earlier months of the war. Many are unregistered, acting in goodwill to link families to accommodation and support. But the outpour of help at border crossings also provides cover for…, 13. What is UNICEF doing to protect displaced children and their families?, UNICEF continues life-saving operations for children, both in and around Ukraine. Humanitarian actors continued expanding presence in retaken areas in eastern and southern Ukraine, with UNICEF contributing to inter-agency convoys delivering food, water, hygiene kits, shelter material and winterization supplies to thousands of families and children…, Help us help them, Support UNICEF's work with children in Ukraine, Learn more
