Hope for Children sets up helpline

Humanitarian organisation Hope For Children has opened a 24-hour free helpline on 1466, affording psychological, social, and legal support and guidance on issues related to the well-being and protection of children.

In a statement released on Tuesday, the organisation, which said the helpline can be used by adults and children alike, claimed that throughout the first lockdown period last March, a spike in reports about family issues involving children was registered in Cyprus.

“This compelled us to create a new way for both children and adults to get in touch with us, with the ultimate goal of finding functional solutions to manage a new and difficult situation,” the organisation said.

According to Hope For Children, a pan-European research carried out recently showed that the pandemic is a cause for confusion, anxiety, frustration and that can be linked to an increase of violent incidents on children.