Priyanka Chopra Instagram – Svetlana held her 4 yr old son Ilya. With tears streaming down her face she told me how she left her husband, parents and home overnight because her son hid under the bed, terrified of the sounds of the sirens and explosions, that became an everyday occurrence in Kyiv. She said she had no choice but to protect her child. As a new mother I was so moved by her resilience. There is nothing more powerful than a mother’s instinct to protect her own. To put this into context, the war in Ukraine is a mother and child crisis, with women and children accounting for 90% of the refugees fleeing. I’ve seen it for myself across the various @unicef supported programmes during my visit to Poland. Every woman I met has deeply touched and inspired me. These women are putting their own trauma aside to nurture and protect children. They are mothers, daughters, caregivers, teachers, volunteers, psychologists and so much more… each shouldering the responsibility of their families while displaced from their homes. In addition to taking care of their families, many of are working several jobs. The Early Childhood Development centers, summer camps and education hubs supported by @unicef give them the much-needed time and space to do that, providing a free safe space where they can safely leave their children, while they go out and try to rebuild their lives. Many told me how they try to smile through the pain just so that the children have a sense of hope. They said they don’t really have anyone to share their fears and feelings with, which is why psychosocial support is so important. The invisible psychological wounds of war are often the least talked about but the most devastating for a child. As the war continues, and winter approaches, the number of displaced women and children could rise and the need for support will grow. We all need to step up to make sure that the women and the families affected by this war are not forgotten. Warsaw, Poland