UNICEF spokeswoman on the situation of children in Ukraine

Almost two years after the outbreak of war, the experiences are increasingly having an impact on children in Ukraine, says Christine Kahmann from UNICEF Germany. Support for families must not diminish.

Ms. Kahmann, you have just returned from Ukraine. How has the situation for the children there developed since your visit a year ago?

We must not forget that the children in Ukraine have been experiencing war for more than 600 days and nights, and this war hangs like a cloud over the children’s growing up. We traveled to the east of the country and met children and young people there who were severely scarred by their war experiences. The war leaves no child in the country untouched, and the longer the war lasts, the greater the impact of the experiences on the psyche of young people. At the same time, we see that the children continue to look forward, that they continue to try to survive everyday life under war conditions in the best possible way, and that they show enormous resilience, get involved in their communities and try to continue to look forward.