TORONTO, 10 March 2022 – Today in Warsaw, Poland, Prime Minister Trudeau announced Government of Canada funding for the humanitarian response to the Ukraine crisis and response in surrounding countries, including $2 million for Save the Children Canada. Danny Glenwright, Save the Children Canada’s President and CEO, had the following response:
“Canada’s swift and targeted commitment of $100 million to the Ukraine crisis is supporting humanitarian organizations, including Save the Children, as they continue to reach children and families with life-saving essentials like shelter, food, warm clothes, and the psychological support they need to process the trauma they’ve endured.
The Ukraine crisis has put children in grave danger—both in Ukraine where children in huddled in basements and bomb shelters with dwindling supplies and in surrounding countries where children on the move are often separated and at increased risk for violence, exploitation, trafficking, and abuse.
The humanitarian need is immense and Canada’s leadership is welcome as we work to address the needs of children and families caught in this nightmare. Canada’s significant commitment reflects the protracted nature of this crisis that will require sustained support in the weeks and months ahead. Today’s announcement of support also mirrors the generous donations we’ve seen from individual Canadians who are heartbroken to see the images of children living in a warzone and refugee children fleeing violence.
There is no place for children in war and Save the Children is calling for an immediate cessation of hostilities. We urge the Government of Canada to continue to use their diplomatic channels to advocate for safe humanitarian access so aid can get to the millions of children and their families in Ukraine.
Outside of Ukraine, we’ve seen image after image of small children bundled in winter clothes clutching their favourite stuffy in one hand and their mother’s hand in the other. However, in recent days, a growing number of these children are arriving on their own, without family support, in an escalating child protection crisis.
Alarming reports from the border suggest that some children are arriving unaccompanied after being sent by family members who were unable to leave Ukraine but wanted their children to be safe from ground attack and aerial explosions. Others have been separated from their families in the chaos of fleeing their homes. Many of the solo arrivals are under 14 and showing signs of psychological distress.
With today’s funding announcement by Canada, we continue to call for a focus on the most pressing concerns for children in this crisis—including child protection and reunification efforts to ensure that children can be safe and with family members.
We were grateful this week have The Honourable Harjit Sajjan, Minister of International Development, visit Save the Children’s team at the Romania-Moldova border where we are providing essentials to children and women who have fled the violence in Ukraine and see the critical work being done for children in crisis.”
Link for photos from the Ukraine-Romania border: https://www.contenthubsavethechildren.org/Package/2O4C2SSYESJA
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Save the Children believes every child deserves a future. In Canada and around the world, we give children a healthy start in life, the opportunity to learn and protection from harm. We do whatever it takes for children – every day and in times of crisis – transforming their lives and the future we share.