Holyrood minister on fact-finding mission in Poland to aid refugees

A Scottish Government minister is to meet displaced Ukrainians at rescue hubs in Poland.

Neil Gray, the minister with special responsibilities for refugees, will spend two days in the eastern European country and visit those affected by Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.

It is hoped he can learn how better to support Ukrainians taking refuge in Scotland.

Over today and tomorrow he will visit Warsaw and Krakow to provide reassurance that Scotland is a place of refuge for those displaced by the war.

As well as meeting refugees and visiting rescue hubs, he will meet Polish officials and representatives from Unicef and the Red Cross to learn more about their work.

It is estimated that 3,747 displaced Ukrainians with a sponsor location in Scotland have arrived in the UK.

And 10,901 visas have been issued with a Scottish sponsor through the Ukraine Sponsorship Scheme, made up of 7,642 visas supplied through the Scottish Government’s Super Sponsor Scheme, and a further 3,259 visas issued for matches with an official sponsor in Scotland.

Mr Gray said: “From the start of this invasion, the people of Scotland have opened their arms in solidarity and support to displaced Ukrainians.

“With the invasion now past the 100-day mark, it is vitally important that we continue to show our solidarity and support for Ukraine and also for the Polish people who are helping them.

“Poland has also opened its arms to many hundreds of thousands of displaced people and it will be a privilege to see the excellent work the country is doing to help and learn from this best practice.

“But my prime purpose on this visit is to make sure Scotland is doing everything it can to assist Poland in what continues to be a very difficult situation.”