A tragic end to the first week of school for Ukraine’s children

Publication Date:2024/09/06

Statement by John Marks, UNICEF Representative a.i. in Ukraine

KYIV, 6 September 2024 - "This week marked the start of a new school year for children across Ukraine. Seven-year-old Emilia was one of them. Tragically she didn't make it back for the third day.

"Emilia was killed in the early hours of 4 September, along with her older sisters, 18-year-old Dariia and 21-year-old Yaryna, and their mother, Yevhenia, when an attack in Lviv devastated their apartment block. The family were among the many reported casualties, which included other children.

"The three sisters were all just starting out in life. After finishing school, Yaryna found a job with the organization, Lviv - European Youth Capital 2025, a UNICEF partner, which conducts activities to empower young people through life skills training. Our colleagues told us about her inspiring and dedicated work to tackle the pressing issues affecting her young people, including the impact of living through war.

"This tragic story reflects the reality for children and young people across Ukraine today as attacks continue to hit populated areas.

"During the first week of the new academic year, educational facilities in areas including Dnipro, Kryvyi Rih, Kyiv, Lviv and Sumy were reportedly damaged in attacks. Evacuations across areas closer to the frontline are also ongoing with education once again disrupted as children flee their homes.

"On 9 September, the world marks the fourth 'International Day to Protect Education from Attack' and the third since the escalation of the war in Ukraine. We use this moment to once again call for educational facilities to be protected from attack, for parties to refrain from the military use of educational facilities and for the right to education to be respected, upheld and enjoyed by children across Ukraine. Schools must be safe and provide nurturing learning environments for every child to develop and thrive.

"UNICEF continues to work with the Ukrainian government and partners across the country to help keep children learning, to support their mental health, and to maintain some semblance of childhood.

"This work includes the rehabilitation of shelters in schools and kindergartens, providing learning supplies and equipment, conducting remedial education classes, and equipping teachers with skills to provide mental health and psychosocial support to their students.

"Transit centers and mobile teams of psychologists and social workers are also supporting children and families who are being evacuated from frontline areas to help children to better cope and to resume their learning in their new locations.

"Children in Ukraine have suffered enough; they must be protected from attacks. Like Emilia, they all just want to go to school, to learn, have fun and be children again."

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Notes for editors:

Multimedia materials available here: https://weshare.unicef.org/Package/2AM4080FDL1J#/SearchResult&VBID=2AM4WNBEOX0HB&PN=1&WS=SearchResults

UNICEF is the world's leading humanitarian organization focused on children. We work in the most challenging areas to provide protection, healthcare and immunizations, education, safe water and sanitation and nutrition. As part of the United Nations, our unrivaled reach spans more than 190 countries and territories, ensuring we are on the ground to help the most disadvantaged children. While part of the UN system, UNICEF relies entirely on voluntary donations to finance our life-saving work. Please visit unicef.caand follow us on Twitter,Facebookand Instagram.

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