A recent report by Human Rights Watch (“We Must Provide a Family, Not Rebuild Orphanages”) has shed some more shocking insights on one of the many tragic consequences of the invasion of Ukraine. Prior to the war the Ukrainian government stated that there were 105,000 children in residential institutions. 90% had parents with full parental rights but unable to care for their children due to poverty or difficult life circumstances. Nearly half the children lived with disabilities.

Their trauma has been profound. Many had to shelter in basements without electricity or running water. Some have been forcibly transferred to Russia (a war crime). Some were evacuated across Ukraine (one group from Mariupol did not speak for four days after being moved to an institution in Lviv). Others were sent abroad and during the chaotic mass refugee flows in the early weeks were not registered.

The need to provide solid family support for such children, and those who could all too easily slip into such a system of institutional care as poverty and family trauma deepens, is ever more critical as we all look forward to peace and to rebuilding lives and communities across Ukraine.

Whilst this has been probably the hardest and most challenging of our 50 years history, we remain confident that we can and will again bring hope and opportunities into the lives of children, young people and families

With every blessing for an Easter filled with love and hope.