World Vision CEO Daniel Wordsworth today welcomed $10m from the Australian Government in new humanitarian funding to support the critical protection needs of Ukraine's children.
Mr Wordsworth this week returned from the Romania-Ukraine border and said vulnerable children were the organisation's priority as the conflict escalated.
"We have been advocating for the Australian Government to make humanitarian aid to Ukraine child-focused and to direct $10 million to help children. Right now, Ukraine's children are at the greatest risk of physical violence and psychological trauma," Daniel said.
"I met with the Ukrainian Ambassador to Australia, Volodomyr Shalkiviskyi, on Friday afternoon to discuss how we can further support Ukrainian families fleeing the conflict."
World Vision is already working in Ukraine and neighbouring Romania and Moldova. We are providing child protection, mental health and psycho-social support for children, and child-friendly spaces. Staff have been supporting refugees since the crisis began with water, food, hygiene and child-friendly kits, as well as heaters to the mother-and-child rest stations at the border.
The Australian Government has announced the additional $10m to help address education and critical protection needs for children, people living with a disability and those at risk of gender-based violence.
The funding will be provided through non-government organisations under the Australian Humanitarian Partnership.
At least 3 million refugees have so far fled Ukraine, with over 1.7m into Poland, and more than 1m into Hungary, Moldova, Slovakia and Romania. These numbers are rising daily.
"Protecting children - and continuing to replenish hospitals in Ukraine with food and supplies due to rising hunger - are critical issues. We stand ready to work with the Australian Government to help Ukraine's children," Daniel said.
