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Up to 800,000 children would have escaped alone from the war to other countries, which is generating “a crisis of protection of minors”
More than two million people have fled Ukraine In the twelve days that have elapsed since the beginning of the invasion from Russiaaccording to the International Organization for Migration (IOM) and the United Nations Refugee Agency (UNHCR).
The vast majority of these refugees are in Poland, Romania, Hungary, Slovakia and Moldova, while some 153,000 have moved to other countries in Europe, according to both organizations. United Nations.
Since the conflict began twelve days ago, Poland has opened its doors to 885,000 Ukrainians, while Hungary it has done so with 170,000, according to UNHCR data. Both countries have been among the most reluctant in Europe in recent years to accept refugees, but in the face of the crisis in Ukraine they have maintained their borders open and organized reception of Ukrainians who have escaped from the war.
A crisis for minors
Of those, up to 800,000 refugees would be children who arrive in other countries “alone and without family support”, which is generating “a crisis of protection of minors“, as detailed by the non-governmental organization Save the children. That is why the NGO has asked border authorities and humanitarian organizations deployed on the ground to “adopt measures to keep children with their main caregivers”, “provide psychological support” and introduce “programs to prevent separation”.
Save the children says reports from the border suggest some children, many under 14, “arrive alone after being sent by relatives who were unable to leave Ukraine” but wanted “their children to be safe” from war . Other minors have been separated from their relatives “during the chaos of fleeing their homes” and all show signs of distress and psychological trauma, she says.
“Parents resort to desperate and heartbreaking measures to protect their children”, such as sending them abroad with neighbors and friends while they stay with older people or to protect their homes, “he explained to EFE Irina Saghoyandirector for Eastern Europe of the organization.
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The IOM informed that it has started a collaboration with the digital accommodation platform Airnb to connect people who have fled Ukraine with free, short-term accommodation possibilities in any of those five countries.
The firm last week offered accommodation for 100,000 Ukrainian refugees and so far more than 26,000 owners have signed up to offer their accommodations free or discounted in many countries around the world. “Safe, private and accessible accommodation is essential at this time,” said an IOM spokesman in Geneva.