Humanitarian action and emergencies

The escalation of the war in Ukraine in February 2022 changed everything overnight. It robbed children and families in Ukraine of everything that was “normal” for them. Seeing the huge numbers of mainly women and children fleeing their country did not leave anyone cold. Slovakia responded quickly, effectively, and compassionately. Volunteers,…

The Humanitarian Center in Gabčíkovo is a very contrasting place. Freezing corridors and warm rooms; a constant silence broken by the echoing noise of closing doors. Smiling children run and play together, but their families are torn apart by the war. Initially a temporary solution; now a continued reality for those who have nowhere else to go.…, Helping others: Yulia’s distraction , Yulia first arrived in Gabčíkovo with her 10-year-old son Artemy in the middle of March 2022, almost a year ago, leaving behind her husband and her routine, scared and uncertain about the future.  Artemy was not happy to leave his home country and move abroad, but things got a bit better when they were joined by Yulia's mother.  Yulia, a former…, The children are still scared , Karine has been in Gabčíkovo for almost a year now. Originally from Odessa, she also arrived in Slovakia in March 2022, together with her children and sister.    Karine, a kindergarten teacher from Odessa, Ukraine, in her class in Humanitarian Center in Gabčíkovo. Karine, a kindergarten teacher from Odessa, Ukraine, in her class in Humanitarian…, A contrasting place indeed   , "On the one hand, Gabčíkovo is convenient because refugees have everything here,” explains Katka, a social worker at the centre. “If they have any problems, they can sort them out here: they don't have to go anywhere; everything is in one place. On the other hand, it makes it more difficult for them to integrate.”    Social workers Katka, Melinda…, I just want to take my dog on a trip  , A completely different glimpse into everyday life in Gabčíkovo is offered by Marianna, a 15-year-old girl who fled Kramatorsk, close to the frontline in Eastern Ukraine, with her family eleven months ago.    She and her family did not plan to stay in Slovakia for long. This is the main reason why Marianna initially did not enroll in a Slovak…, The end of the war with a magic wand   , Samuel and Anastasia, both 8 years old, like Gabčíkovo, especially when the volunteers come and play with them. Like many kids their age, they are not too fond of going to school or attending their Slovak language course, which is a must for all children until the age of 15.  Anastasia is playing in the kindergarten room in Gačíkovo Humanitarian…

“When I heard what had happened, I was shocked,” says Natalia, as she recalls the first time she heard about the war in Ukraine. “Living close to the border, I quickly started to see what arriving refugees were going through. Children were the most affected,” she continues.  Having witnessed such level of suffering, Natalia started to look for a…, Being there and listening , Natalia points to a colorful room full of children that are busy playing. "We are here for them every day, 7 days a week,” she declares. As she says, often less is more. People coming to the Blue Dot just need someone that shows them they are not alone: "Some don’t need complex psychological help; just someone that listens to them when they talk…, Children, a bright light in a tunnel of doubt  , Despite her commitment to support Ukrainian children, Natalia did not remain untouched by doubt. Meeting all those refugees, especially mothers and children, who had to flee their homes and abandon their husbands and fathers, poses a great emotional challenge: “I asked myself how long I could keep going, many times.”  It was her colleagues, their…

By 9am, the waiting room of the Rovniankova clinic in Bratislava is already crowded. The clinic is one of the four clinics in Slovakia designated to provide primary health care to Ukrainian refugees in Slovakia.  Tatiana, a Slovak pediatrician, is busy running from one door to the other. Alongside Tatiana work 10 Ukrainian doctors whom she…, The hardship of everyday reality , Tatiana begins her story recalling the moment she heard about the war. She was in the hospital, giving birth to her third daughter: "One realizes how terrible it must be for those people who are at the epicentre of the war. Having a newborn, I could not even imagine how hard it must be for mothers to flee their homes with small babies."  As a…, Being a doctor is a never-ending mission , Helping and protecting children is Tatiana’s lifelong mission, as well as a strong motivation to continue: "Children are a universe; everything else is irrelevant. We must take care of every one of them. It’s our job to create a new home for them. If we do not do it, then who will?" She asks and pays her attention to the little baby girl, who came…

The silence is broken by the ring of a bell, exclamations and laughter. The class is over. The hallways of the Taras Shevchenko Joint School in Prešov, in East Slovakia, suddenly fill up with walking students of all ages, from kindergarten to high school.   A year ago, as Slovakia was enjoying some bank holidays, Nikola was watching the news at…, I never wanted to stop , The Taras Shevchenko Joint School in Prešov is the only school in Slovakia that teaches in the bilingual combination Slovak and Ukrainian, so it always had children from both Ukrainian and Slovak families. This was a winning combination, as the lack of language barrier in the school made it easier for Ukrainian children who fled to Slovakia to…, Children are not to be blamed , Over the past year, there have been various emotions and many questions about the future. Though, Nikola is clear about one thing: "None of us would want to be on the other side. If there is a problem or such a situation, we need to imagine how they feel and how we would feel if we were in their place.“  She becomes emotional as she watches the…

"My first thoughts turned immediately to my family and friends, wondering what I would do if I were in this situation," says Colonel Tejgi, recalling his reaction to the news that war had broken out in Ukraine on 24 February 2022. "Of course, we saw some signals, but I did not believe this would happen until the very last minute." From that moment…, Firefighters are humans too , The additional hours spent at the border took many firefighters away from their usual tasks. As Col. Tejgi says, witnessing the suffering of the thousands of people that crossed the border each day took an emotional toll to the team: "I worked in the corps for 32 years and I have never seen such extreme exhaustion. There was no time to prepare; we…, The look in their eyes is satisfaction itself , As the war is ongoing, refugees crossing the Slovak-Ukrainian border are still a constant. Despite of the exhaustion, Col. Tejgi remains hopeful and determined to keep doing his part: “What motivates us to continue our support is the hope we see in the eyes of children and other refugees,” he says. “I know that if we would be in this situation,…

GENEVA, 14 February 2023 – ” As families face the wretched, heartbreaking reality that the focus in Türkiye and Syria is moving to recovery more than rescue, UNICEF fears many thousands of children have been killed. Even without verified numbers, it is tragically clear that numbers will continue grow. "In Türkiye, the total number of children…

NEW YORK/AMMAN/GENEVA, 13 February 2023 – Seven days after two devastating earthquakes and more than 1,600 aftershocks hit south-east Türkiye and Syria – causing widespread destruction and taking the lives of thousands of people – UNICEF is warning that millions of children are in need of urgent humanitarian support.  While the total number of…

GENEVA, 7 February 2023 - “This is the most powerful earthquake to hit the region in almost 100 years and came at the worst possible time for vulnerable children and families in the affected areas.      “Thousands of homes have been destroyed, displacing families and exposing them to the elements at a time of year when temperatures regularly drop…

NEW YORK/GENEVA/AMMAN, 6 February 2023 – Thousands of children and families are at risk after two devastating earthquakes and dozens of aftershocks hit south-east Türkiye and Syria today.  According to authorities, in the two countries, more than 2,300 people have been killed, including children, with thousands more injured. These numbers are only…

The children and families of Ukraine have now endured 365 days of violence, trauma, loss, destruction and displacement since the war escalated in February 2022. Millions of children have been robbed of birthday celebrations, school memories, time with friends and family.  People gathered in the underground car park UNICEF/Filippov On 18 April 2022…, Plunged into cold and darkness , The war in Ukraine has caused significant damage to vital infrastructure, impacting children and families’ access to electricity, heating, water and telecommunications. Without electricity, children have been forced to cope with plunging temperatures in badly damaged homes. For almost 2 million children in Ukraine, attending classes online is the…, Finding a blue dot of safety, While Varvara hopes that there will be peace on her next birthday, Andrei celebrated his 6th birthday fleeing war. Andrei celebrated his 6th birthday fleeing war UNICEF/ Alex Nicodim Watching her son enjoying his first birthday away from home, Olena feels she made the right decision to shield her children from the horrors of war. “You should leave…, One year into the conflict, As attacks in populated urban areas go on unabated, families continue to be separated, and the lives of children inside and outside Ukraine torn apart. One year into the conflict, children continue to cope with fear, anxiety and grief associated with loss of loved ones, separation from family, forced displacement from their homes, isolation, and…, 365 days of tireless work, In the 365 days since the war escalated in Ukraine, UNICEF has been working with national and local authorities, as well as civil society organizations in Ukraine and neighbouring countries to deliver emergency assistance, access to education, health and mental health support, and life-saving information to children and their families.  Varvara,…, Children need peace. Now., UNICEF salutes the extraordinary resilience of parents and teachers, social and health workers impacted by war in Ukraine, and the solidarity that individuals and entire countries across the world have shown to Ukraine’s children. Children of Ukraine should not have to live through another 365 days of missed birthdays, school memories, time with…

For 10-year-old Bohdan from Izyum, in eastern Ukraine, last year was the hardest year of his life so far. This young boy has been through things no child should ever have to – shelling, starvation, the destruction of his home and a heartbreaking separation from his family. “A war is when strangers come and suddenly start to fire. Although we did…