Save the Children: No adoptions of single children from Ukraine

The war in Ukraine is a disaster, especially for children who are already vulnerable because of a disability or because they live in an institution.

The war in Ukraine is a disaster, especially for children who are already vulnerable because of a disability or because they live in an institution. But children are also vulnerable on the run, because they sometimes lose their parent or caregiver in the chaos.

Pim Kraan, director of Save the Children: “In the centers for the first reception of refugees at the border with Romania, our staff has already seen several children who traveled alone. It is important that they are reunited with family as soon as possible. Sometimes children temporarily lose their family for a while.”

Save the Children is committed to reuniting children with their families. The organization does this both in Ukraine and in the border countries. There are an estimated 100,000 children in Ukraine, which is 1.3 percent of all children who live in institutions without parents. This makes Ukraine one of the highest percentages of children in institutional care in Europe. Since the start of the war, 1.8 million children have fled and 2.5 million are internally displaced.

Most vulnerable

Save the Children is very concerned about these children. With the escalation of violence, access to medical care, food, warm shelter and access to education is becoming increasingly difficult. As in any crisis, children without carers or guardians are at increased risk of abuse, exploitation, trafficking and neglect.

Irina Saghoyan is director of Save the Children in Eastern Europe: “Many children who live in orphanages or institutions still have living relatives who can and want to take care of them. The safety, care and access to basic needs of this group of children must be a priority. They must not be forgotten.”

Call: stop adoptions and foster care

Kraan: “Make sure that children do not fall into the hands of human traffickers or become victims of child abuse. We therefore call on governments in the host countries not to allow foster care and adoption now. What children now need is good care in a safe environment.”

Aid to Save the Children

In Ukraine, Save the Children works with its own staff and 20 Ukrainian partner organizations on emergency aid for displaced children and families. This means that medicines and first aid equipment, hygiene kits with, for example, sanitary towels and tampons are provided. In addition, people can qualify for financial support so that they can pay for rent, buy food or other necessary things. Psychosocial care is also part of the emergency aid programme.

In Poland, Save the Children works in close cooperation with the Polish authorities and civil society organizations on child protection for Ukrainian children. In addition to a program to reunite unaccompanied children with their families, we also provide psychosocial support and access to legal services.

In Romania, Save the Children is present at ten border posts and reception centers. Save the Children employees and volunteers distribute food, water and hygiene kits and there are child-friendly centers where children can catch their breath.

Save the Children is present in a number of reception centers in Germany, Spain, Italy, Sweden, Norway and the Netherlands.

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