UNICEF: 200,000 children in Donbas need psychosocial support

The armed conflict in Donbas has greatly affected the lives of 580,000 children living in the combat zone or nearby.

Of this number, about 200,000 children need psychosocial support, the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) announced, Radio Liberty reports.

“Two years of violence, shelling and fear have left an indelible mark on thousands of children in eastern Ukraine. Amid the continuation of this conflict, we need to reach these children immediately to meet their physical and psychological needs,” said Giovanna Barberis, UNICEF Representative in Ukraine.

According to UNICEF, more than 215,000 children have been displaced. At least every fifth school has been destroyed or damaged. Over the past year, more than 20 children were killed and more than 40 were wounded, most of them as a result of explosion of mines and other munitions.

Two million people in the combat zone have limited access to water because of the infrastructure damage.