Children prone to long-term psychological issues after trauma

MILLIONS of terrified Ukrainian children are at risk of suffering serious psychological harm as they are forced to flee their homes in freezing temperatures as shells explode around them.

International aid agency Save The Children has warned the fear and chaos sparked by Russia’s invasion has not only put the lives of 7.5 million children in danger but could cause long-term trauma.

As explosions were heard in the capital Kyiv and other major cities including Kharkiv, families and children fled into basements and bomb shelters for protection.

Thousands of others chose to flee the capital by car, despite below-zero temperatures, and displaced children now face long days and nights exposed to brutal conditions.

Save the Children’s Eastern Europe director Irina Saghoyan said the use of explosive weapons in populated areas “should be avoided at all costs”.

“Ukraine’s children are caught in the crossfire of this adult war. It should never have come to this,” she said.

“Our most immediate concern is the risk to their health and wellbeing – in conflict, everything is on the table – death, injury, sexual violence, protection risks. Children are terrified.

“They are hearing explosions, they are being asked to flee with just the clothes on their backs. The risk to their mental health and potential for long-term trauma cannot be underestimated.”

Ukrainian families escaping the rain of shells from Russian troops also face a hidden enemy. Eastern Ukraine is one of the most mine-contaminated regions in the world.

Almost 70 per cent of civilian casualties since the July 2020 ceasefire have been caused by concealed bombs.

World Vision Australia chief executive officer Daniel Wordsworth said they were preparing to assist children affected by the crisis.