The line of cars stretches into the distance as Ukrainian families, exhausted with worry, make their way slowly toward the border of Poland, some 31 miles away.
Intensive air strikes and heavy fighting in Ukraine have pushed more than 500,000 people out of their homes in search of safety in the past week. Families have already crossed into Poland, Romania, Moldova and neighboring countries. Between 3 and 5 million more could seek refuge in the coming months.
More than 500,000 people have already been displaced by escalating violence in Ukraine
“This border is packed with cars that have come for days and days to get to this point,” said UNICEF Chief of Communication James Elder on February 27. Some families were continuing their journey on foot, in freezing temperatures. One mother pushed a baby carriage along the side of the road; a little girl in a snowsuit held her older sister’s hand tightly.
“Today has been a day soaked in sorrow,” said Elder. “More stress and sadness than I can almost ever remember seeing.” Fathers staying behind in Ukraine bid farewell to their daughters and sons as they flee across into Poland, husbands say goodbye to their wives. “Families are being separated. It’s gut-wrenchingly sad.”
As the crisis in Ukraine tears families apart, local volunteers rally to offer food and kindness:
But amid all the sorrow, community volunteers are stepping up to cook food, look after children and otherwise assist displaced families as they proceed on their journey.
UNICEF is on the ground in Ukraine, working around the clock from five country offices on both sides of the contact line to scale up operations to meet the mounting needs of families in crisis. In coordination with UNHCR, UNICEF is setting up 26 Blue Dot hubs in six neighboring countries to provide urgent assistance for fleeing families. The humanitarian community is quickly mobilizing emergency financing to facilitate an effective, wide-scale humanitarian response in Ukraine and neighboring countries.
UNICEF and partners are working 24/7 to meet the needs of displaced families in Ukraine and neighboring countries
“The situation for children caught up in the conflict in Ukraine grows worse by the minute,” said UNICEF Executive Catherine Russell. “We are receiving reports of hospitals, schools, water and sanitation facilities and orphanages under fire. Explosive weapons in populated areas and explosive remnants of war are real and present dangers for the children of Ukraine. Children have been killed. Children have been wounded. And children are being profoundly traumatized by the violence all around them.”
UNICEF is appealing for an immediate suspension of ongoing military operations in Ukraine and calling for all parties to protect civilians and civilian infrastructure and to abide by all legal and moral obligations to keep children out of the line of fire.
“We must protect all children in Ukraine, now,” said Russell, “before it is too late.”
UNICEF has issued an emergency appeal to help fund its relief operations in Ukraine and neighboring countries. Help UNICEF save and protect the most vulnerable. Donate today.
Top photo: On February 27, 2022, as military operations continue, people fleeing Ukraine walk along vehicles lining up to cross the border from Ukraine into Poland. © UNICEF/UN0598182/Moskaliuk. Video edited by Tong Su for UNICEF USA