The European Union (EU) has provided €2.5 million to the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF), as part of efforts to bolster access to education and overcome learning gaps, as well as support immunization for children in the East and South of Ukraine.

"UNICEF expresses its sincere gratitude to the European Union for its unwavering support and solidarity in providing Ukrainian children with access to education and healthcare services," said Munir Mammadzade, UNICEF Representative to Ukraine. "Through collaborative efforts, UNICEF continues its work to ensure that despite the challenges of the war, every child has the opportunity to thrive."

The EU funding will help UNICEF to refurbish and rehabilitate shelters in educational institutions to provide safe and conducive spaces for learning, as well as to conduct catch-up classes to children at risk of learning losses. In addition, teachers and educators will be empowered through training initiatives, enabling them to effectively deliver catch-up learning interventions and support the educational needs of vulnerable children.

This funding will also be channeled to improve access of children and adults to routine vaccination in Eastern regions, facilitating the procurement of cold chain equipment and upgrading storage capacities to streamline the delivery of routine vaccinations for children and adults. 

"The war in Ukraine has significantly restricted the access to education and health services for numerous Ukrainian children," stated Claudia Amaral, Head of the European Union Humanitarian Aid in Ukraine. “The European Union is fully committed to providing immediate assistance to the children of Ukraine, as they are one of the most vulnerable groups. 

We work hand in hand with humanitarian organizations like UNICEF to guarantee that children can reach their potential even amidst difficult circumstances."

Since the beginning of the full-scale war in Ukraine began in February 2022, the EU has allocated over €53 million to support UNICEF Ukraine through the European Commission’s Civil Protection and Humanitarian Aid Operations department. This support aimed to ensure emergency and early recovery interventions for children's access to health, nutrition, education, child protection, cash assistance and safe water, sanitation, and hygiene (WASH). Nearly 2 million people have already benefited from UNICEF's support funded by the EU.