childhood cancer in ukraine’s war
UKRAINE | FEBRUARY & MARCH 2023
Unseen victims: The Cancer-Stricken Children of Ukraine’s War
Ukraine has one of the highest rates in Europe in terms of children who are diagnosed with cancer. Chornobyl’s Nuclear disasters have had a devastating impact on long-term Ukrainian health: the local population continued to experience the effects for decades. The radiation emitted by nuclear waste has led to an increase in cancer rates among children.
Today, the situation for oncologic children in Ukraine has been further exacerbated by the Russian invasion. Many hospitals have been damaged or destroyed, and those that are still standing are often overcrowded and understaffed. The conflict has also caused significant disruptions to supply chains, making it challenging to obtain essential medications and equipment needed for cancer treatments. As a result, many oncologic children have been left without proper care or have had to endure long waits for treatment, which can be life-threatening.
The risk of using nuclear weapons in Ukraine could have an even more devastating impact on human health and the environment than Chornobyl.
During my time on the ground in Ukraine, I had the opportunity to meet many children like Paulina, Maxim, and Elina who are battling cancer. Kyiv and Lviv are the two main centers with many more children with cancer are hospitalized.
Thanks to the Soleterre NGO, which has been working with oncology families in Ukraine for twenty years, I was able to work closely with the families and their children. Every image has been shoot in accordance with the families.
