Since the Russian invasion began, nearly two-thirds of all Ukrainian children have fled their homes and half of children who remain in the country are at risk for not having enough food.
UNICEF Emergency Programs Director Manuel Fontaine said at a U.N. Security Council meeting in New York, Ukrinform reports.
According to Fontaine, half of the estimated 3.2 million children who remain in Ukraine are at risk for not having enough food.
"Attacks on water system infrastructure and power outages have left an estimated 1.4 million people without access to water in Ukraine. Another 4.6 million people have only limited access," Fontaine said.
He stressed that the situation in Mariupol and Kherson is even worse, children and families in these cities have been living for weeks without access to running water, sanitation, regular food and medical supplies. “They are hiding in homes and basements, waiting for an end to violence and bombing,” Fontaine said.
UNICEF's envoy said that the U.N. had confirmed that at least 142 children have been killed and 229 injured in the fighting. "We know these numbers are likely much higher — and many of them were caused by crossfire or the use of explosive weapons in populated areas," he added.
