The world’s first centre to help child victims of explosions has opened with immediate focus on the wounded young of Ukraine.
The Centre For Paediatric Blast Injury Studies, a partnership between Imperial College London and Save the Children, brings together world experts and leading technology to support victims.
Children are seven times more likely to die from blast injuries than adults and the centre will focus initially on victims in Ukraine, where four children are injured or killed daily.
It is believed 465 Ukrainian children have been killed during the invasion and 2,619 education centres have been hit by explosions.
Leading surgeon Andriy Dvorakevych, 49, who works at Lviv City Children’s Hospital, in west Ukraine, spoke at the launch of the research hub in White City, West London.
He said: “What Russia has done to our people, particularly children, can never be forgiven.
“I dream about the war stopping in days but sadly I fear that won’t happen soon. These crimes against Ukraine cannot evaporate, especially against the children. They cannot disappear.
“I think about the children at night and my wife helps me when I talk about it.”
The hub has brought together medics, engineers, pain specialists and prosthetics experts.
Using high-tech equipment, computer imagery and 3D printing, they can predict the effects of blasts and what prosthetics are needed.
In 2021, one in six children globally – 449 million children – lived in a conflict zone.
More than 2 million children in Ukraine are exposed to the risk of landmines and other explosives and 68% of child injuries are caused by bombs.
Save the Children UK CEO Gwen Hines said: “For tens of thousands of children in Ukraine, war has become a part of everyday life.
“Bombs rain from the sky and explosive devices litter the ground close to where they live and play.
“Tragically there’s never been a more pressing need for the knowledge and tools to better protect children and care for them when they are hurt by weapons of war.”
