On World Humanitarian Day, Cheddar News turns our attention to the war in Ukraine and the terrible toll it is taking on Ukrainian families. Lauren Davis, director of marketing and communications at Kidsave, spoke to Cheddar News’ Hena Doba about the important work the nonprofit is doing for children and families displaced by the war — which has displaced 12 million people, including 5 million children. “People need help. And, of course, the attention on [the war] is dwindling but the need is growing, and people need just basic necessities, water, food — flashlights because they can't access electricity.” In the nearly six months since the war began, Kidsave has helped 24,000 people to safety and regularly feeds 35,000, and its in-country branch has grown to 300 volunteers. 

Closing Bell

World Humanitarian Day Sheds Light on Ukrainian Crisis

Welcome back to closing bell and Cheddar news today's world humanitarian day, a day to remember and help the millions of people in need around the world. The day was first observed by the United Nations in 2008 and the war in Ukraine is top of mind this year as the U. N. X. U. N. Expects casualties to ride in the aftermath of Russia's invasion. But let's focus our attention on the most innocent victims of the war. Children. UNICEF says that almost two out of every every three Ukrainian Children have been displaced by fighting. Joining me now is Lauren Davis, director Marketing and Communications at Kids Save and welcome to the show, a nonprofit that has been rescuing Children and families in Ukraine since the start of the war. Thank you for everything you and your family you and your company does. Let's talk about these families. It's been almost six months since the invasion began. Please describe what the humanitarian situation is like in Ukraine, especially when it comes to these young Children. Sure, thank you so much for having me on behalf of Kids Save on world humanitarian day. You know, the U. N. On their website says it takes a village to support you know, people and humanitarian crisis and Kids Save is just honored and humbled to be a part of a group of organizations that are providing aid and rescuing Children and families in Ukraine. You know, never before with kids, they've ever say that we were a humanitarian aid organization. We are a child advocacy group and we've been helping older kids and orphans and foster care um find families for over 23 years. And you know, we were operating, you know, of course in the U. S. Colombia sierra Leone in Ukraine. And we were originally starting just to help the Children and the families that we have brought together through our programs. And we quickly recognized the need there and from there, we vowed to help anyone who need. And so, you know, six months later, we've helped 24,000 people, Children and families get to safety. We're feeding 35,000 people regularly. And now we have a team of over 300 volunteers when we started, you know, with just, you know, a few members of our team there and right now we're just seeing such a need. People, you know, need help. And of course the attention on this is dwindling but the need is growing and people need just, you know, basic necessities, water, food, um, you know, flashlights because they can't access electricity. And that's something that we're seeing on the ground right now, or what about the regions that are in the front lines? How hard is it to deliver the aid there? You know, it's it's very difficult. But we were very lucky to have a group of people who had are, you know, living in Ukraine and who have been there and know the back road to know the the in and out of how to get to the toughest areas and um, they have been able to get to people in basement and in places where a lot of people wouldn't know to go or know how to get there safely. And so those local heroes we call them are Angels of Hope. They've been able to traverse very difficult terrain to rescue people who are hiding and trying to stay safe from bombs. What do these refugee Children need most? Well, right now, we're moving into winter, a lot of people aren't necessarily thinking about that. There are so many needs. As you head into winter of course, um, they need shelter and food and clothes and everything that we're working to provide. But they're also starting school. School starts September one. And we are providing not just, you know, goods and food. We are also supplying school supplies to orphans and Children who have biological families. We are working really hard to make sure that they have the technology so that they can attend school and have some sense of normalcy as they face this unimaginable time, millions of Children are displaced, like you mentioned among them are older teenagers whose lives have been turned upside down here and they probably need different assistance than Children at a younger age. What do you do to help them at school supplies as well? It's also school supplies. Yes, But we really primarily work to maintain our program. We had a program that was helping older orphans who were emancipated and you know, they don't have a family to take care of them or you know, a refuge and people they know. So we're working to maintain those relationship with their mentors, making sure that they have someone to call if they need help, if they need additional assistance, anything they need. We really just want to make sure that our mentors are still connected to our emancipated youth there. Ukraine is not the only country in need of humanitarian assistance is kids save active in other countries as well. Besides Ukraine. Yes, kids Save us active again because they was active in the US and we are active in Sierra Leone are programs um and as well as Columbia. Our programs are primarily helping older kids in foster care and orphanage is find families in Sierra Leone. Those are next of kin. And we are going in villages and moving Children from orphanages and to you know, any person that is related to them that are so social workers help find. And so we're working in as many places and doing as much as we can to help as many Children as possible. What can people do to help here. You know, Honestly, we really need contributions. We really need people to support um in any way they can on our website. Kids save dot org. We are still raising funds to support these efforts. Again, the need is great. We can't stress that enough. There is, there are endless things that we can do to help these Children, these innocent Children. Um, during this horrible time, Lauren Davis, Director, Marketing and Communications of Kids. Save again, Thank you for everything you and your company are doing.