Child Refugee Crisis

Four years into the war in Ukraine, children are still living through daily danger, disruption, and loss. Violence intensified over the past year, with continued air strikes and drone attacks damaging homes, schools, and essential infrastructure. Children endure repeated air raid sirens and ongoing uncertainty, disrupting their sense of safety and stability.

Families who were forced from their homes remain displaced, often living in damaged buildings or temporary accommodations while facing harsh winter conditions.  Many families fled the war in Ukraine expecting to return quickly, but worsening conditions forced them to stay in neighboring countries.

Since 2022, Save the Children has supported 584,600 people in Romania, Lithuania, and Poland, including more than 21,300 people in 2025.

ROMANIA We have reached 369K+ people through counseling hubs, border points, and transit centers, offering emotional care, practical guidance, and safe spaces. In 2025, we provided cash assistance, mental health support, and education programs, helping families regain stability and confidence.

LITHUANIA We have supported 32K+ people since 2022. In 2025, children accessed essential services and mental health support, while families received cash assistance and referrals to specialized services to ease financial and emotional stress.

POLAND We supported 183K+ Ukrainians since 2022. At the end of 2025, we transitioned all programs to local leadership and closed our Warsaw office. Throughout this transition, we worked with 18 local partners and authorities to ensure refugee children could continue accessing education, protection, and care services.

Over the next year in Romania and Lithuania, our focus in 2026 will shift toward longer-term integration and stability. In Lithuania, we will continue providing emergency cash and mental health support, including psychological counseling. In Romania, we plan to transition all programs to local partners by June 2026. By investing in self-reliance, education, and community-based support, we will help families build the foundations for recovery

In Ukraine we are shifting to a more partner led approach in 2026, directing more funding to local organizations while continuing to provide families on the frontline with cash and urgent assistance. Our priorities include ensuring families can access child protection services, including expanding family-based care and helping more children access safe, inclusive education at Digital Learning Centers and schools, while educating them about the risks of mines.

Thanks to your support, our teams and local partners have continued to stand with children and families affected by the war in Ukraine and across the region. Your generosity has helped provide life-saving assistance, education, and protection, bringing hope, stability, and the chance to rebuild for those who need it most.

• Ukraine_FourYear_Report_FINAL.pdf (PDF)