Save the Children warns that it is necessary to maintain a humanitarian approach and not just "tank" in Ukraine

Ukrainian children have spent an average of 920 hours in bunkers in the last year

MADRID, 20 Feb. (EUROPA PRESS) -

The director of Save the Children in Ukraine, Sonia Khush, has warned at a press conference that, despite welcoming the visit of the President of the United States, Joe Biden, to Kiev it is necessary to maintain a humanitarian and not a security approach in the framework of the Ukrainian conflict.

"Although we welcome Biden's visit, the conversations tend to be about tanks and there are children and families in need," Khush said telematically, emphasizing that "behind the policies (on security) we have to remember our humanity ".

The director general of Save the Children International, Inger Ashing, has also stated that the war in Ukraine has brought to light the "problem" of discrimination against refugees from other countries and the lack of attention to frozen conflicts, such as the one in Afghanistan.

"There are also positive things, such as expressions of solidarity," said Ashing, highlighting the role of the European Union in the face of the migration drama in Ukraine, reiterating, despite this, that one can learn from mistakes and also "provide attention" to different emergencies "at the same time.

Both Khush and Ashing have underlined the trauma that the war has caused for Ukrainian children, who have had to spend hours and hours sheltered in bunkers instead of at school or with their friends and loved ones. In fact, the NGO has specified in a statement that Ukrainian boys and girls have spent an average of 920 hours underground in the last year.

"Being trapped underground is a terrible experience," Ashing said at a press conference, emphasizing that he has spoken with children who have nightmares at night and who cannot sleep for fear of bombs.

For his part, Khush has specified that the consequences of the war are not only "high levels of stress" or the "fear" of minors, but that "everyone has been affected", with the loss of their jobs, displacement, separation of families, destruction of houses or lack of resources, among others.

Thus, he has indicated that although there are families that are returning to Ukraine, there are still many difficulties they face when arriving in a destroyed country and that the aid bonds, promoted by Western countries, to rebuild their homes are not "sustainable" in the time.

"We do not have the feeling that the schools will be fully opened in the coming months," he added, stating that the education of Ukrainian boys and girls should be "the priority" at this time, because many of them they are concerned about their future at the end of the war.

For this reason, international NGOs such as Save the Children have participated in programs to implement digital learning centers or therapy dogs to provide minors with "safe spaces" where they can continue their studies.