70% of Ukrainian Children Deprived of Basic Needs Amid Ongoing War: UNICEF.
UN Urges Urgent Investment in Services to Safeguard Ukraine’s Future as Child Poverty Soars.
Kyiv:
As the war in Ukraine drags on into its fourth year, a staggering 70% of children—around 3.5 million—are now living without access to essential goods and services, according to new data released today by UNICEF. The humanitarian agency warns that material deprivation among children has skyrocketed, rising from 18% in 2021 to current crisis levels.
Material deprivation refers to a lack of basic necessities such as nutritious food, warm clothing, safe shelter, heating, clean water, and educational materials—all vital for a child’s health, development, and well-being.
War’s Heavy Toll on Childhood
“The war in Ukraine continues to devastate the country’s children,” said UNICEF Executive Director Catherine Russell. “Investing in them and the services they rely on is the best way to secure Ukraine’s future.”
Since the war escalated in February 2022, at least 2,786 children have been killed or injured, according to UNICEF. A third of Ukraine’s children now live in homes without functioning water and sanitation systems, and nearly half have no access to a safe space to play, either indoors or outdoors.
Basic Services Under Relentless Attack
Frequent attacks on critical infrastructure—including power stations, water treatment facilities, homes, schools, and hospitals—have left entire regions without access to fundamental services. As poverty deepens, children bear the brunt of the crisis.
UNICEF notes that children near frontline regions, those with disabilities, displaced children, and those in institutional or foster care are especially vulnerable.
A Shrinking Future: Demographic Alarms
The report also points to alarming demographic trends, with a 35% drop in birthrates and millions of women and children displaced since the start of the war. The dual pressures of war and economic hardship are creating what experts fear could be a lost generation of Ukrainian children.
UNICEF’s Call: Urgent, Long-Term Investment
While humanitarian aid has met immediate needs, UNICEF emphasizes that long-term investments in education, health, and social protection systems are crucial to Ukraine’s recovery.
“We must put children, their education, safety, health and development at the heart of Ukraine’s recovery,” said Russell. “Above all, Ukraine’s children must be protected from further harm. They need peace.”
She urged the international community and government partners to prioritize early childhood development, inclusive education, and youth skill-building programs to restore opportunities for the next generation.
