More than 3 million people, mostly young people and women, have fled Ukraine since last February to escape a war that continues to kill civilians, destroy homes and neighborhoods, bomb schools and hospitals and endanger millions of lives.
Refugees flock to neighbouring countries to protect themselves from escalating violence at the rate of one child per second, UNICEF said.
While expanding emergency response operations within Ukraine (delivering medical supplies to hospitals where women give birth in the basement, for example), UNICEF has worked to establish 26 Blue Dot centres in neighbouring countries at strategic points along refugee transit routes to help vulnerable families in the movement.
The first Blue Dot opened in Serit, Romania. Sorin Stefanescu, UNICEF Romania’s fundraising campaign coordinator, offers a guided tour:
Each Blue Point, established and operated in collaboration with local and national partners, is open 24 hours a day and provided to receive 3000 to 5000 more people a day. Upon arrival, refugee children and their families can:
Child coverage officers are also on site and are on the lookout for youth traveling without parents or other adult guardians. UNICEF is drawing on its global experience in the circle of family tracing and reunification to help unaccompanied and separated refugee youth from Ukraine.
UNICEF spokesman James Elder described “the influx of other people suffering from trauma and stress” at a briefing on March 15 and noted how Blue Dot centres offer “a moment of respite” to those who have endured “unimaginable hell”.
“We are increasingly establishing those safe spaces, in partnership with humanitarian partners and local government, to provide essential facilities and coverage for youth and families,” Elder said.
“But we will have to be clear: despite the tireless efforts of grandmothers who volunteer with governments, scouts with UN agencies, as long as this war continues, the scenario of young Ukrainians will only get worse. “
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