Government endorses mandatory evacuation of children from areas of hostilities

The relevant statement was made by the Ukrainian Temporary Occupied Territories Reintegration Ministry on Telegram, an Ukrinform correspondent reports.

The decision was initiated and developed by the Coordination Headquarters for the Mandatory Evacuation of Civilians.

From now on, the reason for mandatory evacuation is the decision of regional military administrations, approved by the military command and the Coordination Headquarters for the Mandatory Evacuation of Civilians.

During mandatory evacuation, children will be accompanied by a parent, a person who replaces them, or any other legal representative.

Children who find themselves in the areas of hostilities cannot take care of themselves. Hence, adults are fully responsible for them. The refusal of parents or guardians to evacuate children is not allowed, because it is a matter of life.

“The duty of the state is to protect the life and health of the child. Today’s decision should encourage parents to take a more serious approach to the evacuation of their children. If adults are unable to take care of the child’s safety, then the state should do so,” Ukrainian Deputy Prime Minister - Temporary Occupied Territories Reintegration Minister Iryna Vereshchuk noted.

Currently, it is only the Donetsk region’s Bakhmut that meets the mandatory evacuation criteria for children.