Aboard a bus in Romania, a Ukrainian girl wearing headphones looks out the window. The overwhelming majority of Ukrainian refugees and displaced individuals are children and women, who are extremely vulnerable to significant risks, including human trafficking and exploitation. The number of children on the move both inside and outside Ukraine has continued to rise since the escalation of the conflict on February 24, 2022.

Ukraine’s 7.5 million children have been put at grave risk. The conflict is forcing them into situations of extreme vulnerability — the loss of loved ones, interruption in education, and the destruction of homes and family livelihoods — that lead to mental and emotional stress.

As war continues, humanitarian needs are multiplying. World Vision staff are supporting refugees in Romania, where we aim to provide hundreds of thousands of people with essential aid, including emergency food assistance packages and educational and psychological support. We’re also working with partners to support refugees in Moldova and displaced families in Ukraine, and through our staff in Georgia, where thousands of visiting Ukrainians were stranded when the conflict began.