The drama of Ukrainian children who spent nearly a thousand hours underground

Ukrainian children have been forced to hide underground for an average of 920 hours over the past yeardue to the invasion of Russia, and are the biggest victims of that war, according to an NGO report save the children published today.

That number of hours equals 38.3 days, according to the report. “A Heavy Toll” (“A Heavy Toll”)based on the testimonies of Ukrainian children and their relatives.

According to official data cited by the London-based organization, 16,207 air raid sirens sounded in Ukraine last year -those that warn of the threat of a missile attack or bombing and invite you to take shelter- with an average duration of one hour.

The dangers faced by Ukrainian children

The report outlines the grave dangers children face every day in Ukraine and highlights the psychological distress of witnessing violence, separation from family and friends, displacement and lack of access to education.

According to the document, families and children often spend up to eight hours at a time in underground shelters.

Along the front line in southeast Ukraine, shelling rarely stops and for this reason, families have been forced from their homes to live in shelters “without basic services such as electricity, water and heating.”

“We were all crying, we were scared shitless”said Sophia -name changed to protect the identity of minors-, 16, recalling how she woke up to explosions and sirens on February 24 in Kharkiv, a city in northeastern Ukraine.

“If an air raid siren goes off, the older students – from 9 to 11 – go to the town hall; they have set up a bunker there,” he added.

Having an equipped and fully furnished bunker is not something everyone counts onand many continue to take refuge in the basements.

the director of Save the children in Ukraine, Sonia Khush said: “many children have witnessed the destruction of their homes and schools and the death of their loved ones due to endless bombings and missiles. And as the war enters its second year, children continue to witness new waves of violence.”

“The children didn’t start this war, but they are paying the ultimate price. However, what always amazes me is the resilience,” he added.

The stress of daily life under the bombings is taking a toll on the mental health of children and adults.

The point of view of the World Health Organization

According to the World Health Organisation, one in five people experiencing conflict is at high risk of suffering from some form of psychological disorder, with symptoms worsening as hostilities continue.

ANDIn the year since February 2022, the United Nations has verified at least 18,657 civilian casualties: 7,110 dead and 11,547 injured.

The real numbers are likely to be higher.

In Ukraine, the hardest hit are the country’s children, as on average more than four of them are killed or injured every dayand this figure is assumed to be underestimated, according to the United Nations.