Two children have reportedly been killed and at least 15 injured in a wave of deadly new year attacks across Ukraine, the UN Children’s Fund (UNICEF) representative said on Wednesday.

“Over the last six days, children and families, and the infrastructure they rely on have come under attack in Dnipro, Lviv, Kharkiv, Kyiv, Odesa, and other populated areas”, said Munir Mammadzade.

With schools and health facilities destroyed and damaged, “Ukraine’s youngest citizens continue to bear the brunt of these attacks. Our heartfelt thoughts are with all those affected”, he continued.

At least eight schools and 10 health care facilities, including a maternity hospital, were reportedly damaged in the past week. 

Homes have been destroyed, and millions of children have started 2024 “under the sounds of sirens and bombardment, stoking a familiar fear”, said UNICEF’s top official in Ukraine. 

“The cumulative impact of reported casualties, damage to infrastructure, and relentless attacks has turned what should be a season of joy into one marred by dread, fear and sorrow.”

For children whose homes have been damaged or destroyed, often with heat and water cut off, the situation is particularly dire as they are facing temperatures reaching as low as -20°C.

“Nearly 1,800 children have been killed or injured since the escalation of the war in Ukraine, according to UN-verified reports. The true number is likely far higher”, added Mr. Mammadzade. 

He said killing and maiming of children, attacks on schools and healthcare, are grave violations of children’s rights and must stop.

Source: UN News

https://news.un.org/en/story/2024/01/1145262