Children and families in eastern Ukraine have suffered the effects of armed conflict, and political and social unrest, for the past eight years. Now, the world is watching as the conflict intensifies and spreads across the country.

UNICEF is urgently ramping up efforts to deliver aid to hundreds of thousands of children and families whose lives hang in the balance.

On 24 February, the Russian Federation announced a military operation on Ukraine that will have a significant impact on the lives of children and families throughout the country.  In recent days, heavy weapons fire along the contact line in eastern Ukraine – a strip of land that divides government and non-government-controlled areas – has already damaged water infrastructure and schools.

Unless the fighting subsides, tens of thousands of families could be forcibly displaced, dramatically escalating humanitarian needs.  Some 7.5 million children will be impacted by the conflict and require access to basic services. UNICEF is trucking safe water to conflict-affected areas and prepositioning health, hygiene and emergency education supplies as close as possible to families near the contact line.

How will my donation help support children in Ukraine?

UNICEF has office across the Ukraine. In response to ongoing and urgent needs, our teams and partners are working to reach children and families. Your donation will play a critical role in supporting our vulnerable communities, making sure that we have enough supplies to provide children with their basic needs, and the right people in place to support that response in the event of a possible escalation.

UNICEF has been in the Ukraine for 25 years supporting children on both sides of the contact line. As this crisis escalates, our teams still stay and deliver for every child.

Your donation will go directly towards funding UNICEF's work to reach children in the Ukraine. If you choose to offer ongoing support with a monthly donation, or in the unlikely event that the funds raised exceed UNICEF’s funding requirements for this appeal, your gift will go to supporting children in need, wherever the need is greatest.