How we work in Ukraine
Listening Following Russia's large-scale invasion of Ukraine, almost 2 million children are in need of Humanitarian Assistance. Many children are fleeing alone, through unsafe and dangerous environments. Erikshjälpen is involved in relief efforts to support children and families in Ukraine - those who have crossed the country's borders and those who remain.
How we support refugees
We provide immediate assistance to displaced people, with a particular focus on the situation of children - how they can be protected if they are separated from their families, separated from their parents or when institutions are evacuated.
We have been working for many years in Ukraine's neighbors Romania and Republic of Moldova, with one of our Regional offices located in Romania. Together with local partner organisations and staff on the ground, we provide support to families coming across the border from Ukraine.
Our interventions are implemented in different phases. We divide the interventions to provide sustainable help over a longer period of time.
We give refugees the information they need
We help Ukrainian refugees register and provide them with the information they need, from safe transportation to their rights. We do this to reduce the risks that increase during flight, such as trafficking.
We offer psychosocial support in safe reception centers
In Republic of Moldova , we provide psychosocial support and safe children's activities in reception centers for Ukrainian refugees. In our reception centers, many minors have crossed the border without parents or other guardians and lack documentation.
We help refugee families stay connected
In Romania, Erikshjälpen focuses on social support for children and families crossing the border and has also started working with organisations specializing in translation, into Ukrainian and Russian.
Through a collaboration with NetOnNet in Sweden, Erikshjälpen, through its partner, can provide several reception centers in Romania with chargers for mobile phones - something that many of the refugees forgot in the flight but which is necessary to keep in touch with family members and friends who remain in Ukraine.
We support Ukrainian refugees in Sweden
Refugee children and families are welcome to attend Erikshjälpen Framtidsverkstad , which is located in several places in Sweden. Here you can participate in activities that are designed together with other children and families in the locality for increased cohesion, networking and personal development. We offer the initiatives in collaboration with local actors from both authorities and civil society.
How we support those who remain
Our interventions inside Ukraine aim to help and support children and families who are forced to seek shelter or live as internally displaced persons. Our partner on the ground is working to provide those in need with food, water, blankets, clothing and other necessities. We also provide psychosocial support and social assistance to affected people - directly on the ground but also by phone and online.
Many of the internally displaced are children and young people. They are forced into difficult routes, with unsafe transportation and accommodation. We are working to strengthen their protection, with the help of our local partners, who are working on the ground to meet the unique needs of each child.
Author: Elin Jonsson
Published: 14 August 2023
