Every day, people are evacuated from frontline villages in the Kharkiv region. Thousands of families are forced to leave their homes not by choice, but because of shelling, explosions, destruction, and the constant fear for their lives. Among them are children who, instead of childhood, experience the trauma of war.
One such story is that of a mother with four children. The youngest had just turned one, the eldest was nine. They arrived in Kharkiv without documents, without any understanding of what assistance they could expect. The children were confused and frightened, as everything around them was unfamiliar: a new home, strangers, unknown streets. And on the mother’s shoulders — the added responsibility of adapting quickly.
Case manager and psychologist Olha Chudna helped the family obtain IDP certificates, find housing, prepare the children for school, and more. Most importantly, she offered support and simply stayed by their side.
“You can go through this process on your own, but in a state of stress it becomes extremely difficult and time-consuming. That is why, in a crisis, it is crucial to have someone nearby who can give advice or just listen. This is exactly why case managers work in frontline cities. I am grateful to those who understand the necessity of this work,” Olha shares.
Despite the challenges of adapting to a new place and bureaucracy, Olha emphasizes that parents must evacuate their children from combat zones.
“For parents who are still hesitating whether to leave: the fear of the unknown cannot be greater than the fear of death. Documents and housing can be arranged. But a child’s life cannot be restored,” Olha states.