John Marks, UNICEF’s interim representative in Ukraine, said that during the first week of the new academic year, educational centers have been damaged in attacks in Dnipro, Kiev, Lviv and Sumy, among other areas. In his statement, he included three sisters killed in the attacks.
Expressed grief over the deaths of seven-year-old Emilia, 18-year-old Daria and 21-year-old Yarina during an attack on September 4 in the city of Lviv, located in western Ukraine. Death had occurred. His mother also lost her life and father was injured in this attack. Apart from them, a large number of people including children have been injured in these attacks. John Marks said that these three sisters were just beginning their lives. Emilia was present on the first day of school opening, but did not return on the third day. While the eldest sister, Yarina, after finishing her schooling, was working with a UNICEF partner organization, which focuses on youth empowerment through skills training. UNICEF’s interim representative said this tragic loss amid attacks on populated areas reflects the reality for children and youth in Ukraine today. The number of civilian casualties has increased. According to the UN Mission to Monitor Human Rights in Ukraine, missile and bomb attacks by Russian military forces since August 26 have caused heavy losses across the country. During this period, government-controlled So far, 64 civilians have lost their lives and 392 have been injured in the attacks in the areas. Apart from this, civilian establishments and infrastructure have also been damaged. Six children have also lost their lives and 43 have been injured. These figures show that the number of dead and injured civilians has increased in recent days. In the month of August, 184 people have died and 856 have been injured. This is the highest number of casualties after the month of July this year. The attacks carried out by Russia have also targeted the power supply infrastructure in Ukraine, due to which there are power cuts across the country. Recent attacks have damaged schools, hospitals, markets and other energy-related infrastructure. Russian-held areas According to United Nations investigators, civilian casualties were reported in Russian-held areas in Ukraine and in Russia as well. On September 4, an attack on a market in the city of Donetsk killed four civilians, including two children, and Seven others have been injured. Five people are reported dead and several others injured in an attack on August 30 in Belgorod, Russia. However, the UN human rights monitoring mission has not confirmed these figures. Lives destroyed, education disruptedSince the beginning of the full-scale Russian invasion of Ukraine, more than 2,180 children have been killed or injured. 1,300 educational centers have been destroyed or damaged. However, the actual number is likely to be much higher. This is the fifth year of disruption in education in Ukraine. Even before the war, now in its third year, the global COVID-19 pandemic has brought school education to a halt, and children have suffered huge learning losses. UNICEF representative John Marks calls for saving education Informed that on September 9, the fourth International Day will be celebrated to protect the education system from attacks. This International Day was established in a decision taken unanimously in the United Nations General Assembly. In this sequence, the UN agency focused on education and culture (UNESCO) and UNICEF were appealed to spread awareness about the situation of children who have to live in countries affected by violent conflict. John Marks stressed that Schools must always be protected, where children are provided with a learning environment in which they can grow and flourish. UNICEF in Ukraine works with the country’s government and its partner organizations to develop and thrive. Together we are trying to support children’s learning, their mental health and maintain the feeling of childhood. Under this, rehabilitation shelter centers have been established in schools and kindergartens, materials and equipment for reading and writing have been provided. Arrangements have been made. and teachers are being trained in mental health and psychosocial support. In addition, mobility centers and mobile teams of psychiatrists and social workers are providing support to children and families who have been evacuated from the front lines of the fighting. The UNICEF representative said that the children of Ukraine have suffered a lot. They will have to be protected from attacks. Like Emilia, they just want to go to school, study, play and become children again.