SW News: The UN's children's emergency organization, UNICEF, has said that as many as 1,000 children have been either killed or injured in the war between Russia and Ukraine, which has now entered its sixth month. This figure was revealed by Catherine Russell, the Executive Director of UNICEF in a statement.

Stressing how the war affected the lives of children, Catherine said “at least 972 children in Ukraine have been killed or injured by violence since the war escalated nearly six months ago, an average of over five children killed or injured each day.”

She said that the figure is what was determined by UN authorities, adding that the number of kids affected could be much higher. In the statement, Russell said the casualty rate of children was high as there was heavy use of explosive weapons in highly populated areas like Mariupol, Luhansk, Kremenchuk, and Vinnytsia.

“Once again, as in all wars, the reckless decisions of adults are putting children at extreme risk. There are no armed operations of this kind that do not result in children being harmed”, said Russell.

She also added that apart from being killed or physically hurt, the children go through severe mental torturing. They are “exposed to deeply distressing events” and kids who escape from violence “are at significant risk of family separation, violence, abuse, sexual exploitation, and trafficking”, Catherine added.

Troubled by the war, going to school has become a distant dream for the children in Ukraine. UNICEF stated that 1 in 10 schools had been damaged and the education system itself is in shambles.

The director pointed out that children going back to school is “a stark reminder of how much children in Ukraine have lost.” She added, “All children need to be in school and learning, including children caught up in emergencies. Children in Ukraine and those displaced by this war are no exception."

The organisation called for an immediate ceasefire and to stop the use of explosive weapons in highly populated areas and attacks on civilian facilities and buildings. “Ukraine’s children urgently need safety, stability, access to safe learning, child protection services, and psychosocial support, the executive director said. After all, the Ukraine children are badly in need of peace.