The past 6 years in eastern Ukraine, war has ravaged and uprooted the lives of many. An entire generation is being raised in times already uncertain to many families, conflict consistently around them. In already chaotic times, these communities had to face (along with others globally) the Coronavrius Pandemic.
Take the small town of Zolote, near the so-called line of contact in eastern Ukraine, which divides the government and non-government areas, and where fighting is the most severe. Once home to 5,000 people, Zolote has been reduced to less than 300 inhabitants; slowly drawn out of the town to seek work and safety elsewhere. For the few who remain, walking about now means looking out for mines and other explosives. Despite the conflict, educating facilities remain open, providing the children of the region a sense of comfort in their grim reality; schools have been boarded up to protect children from shrapnel and bullets, yet the classes and sports provided give a sense of normalcy to the children.
Around 430,000 children living with the psychological wounds of growing up around conflict will need ongoing support. Across eastern Ukraine, UNICEF and partners provide psychosocial support and mine risk education to children, youth and caregivers. Despite the children returning to schools despite the war for the sake of some normalcy, after 6 years the spread of Covid-19 is what forced them home- with schools closing to minimize spread.
With the breakout of the war, many lost their work and sources of income. Essential goods raised in price, and the cost of home repairs after shellings have caused major strains on individual families. Now, with the coronavirus pandemic to contend with, the lack of healthcare and safe sanitation have created new challenges to account for in their uncertain futures.
To find out more: https://www.unicef.org/coronavirus/covid-19-casts-new-shadow-over-eastern-ukraines-children
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