We must help Ukrainians

We have all witnessed the terrible scenes unfolding in Ukraine. This is another dark moment in our history, and these events are happening not far from our shores.

Whoever thought there would be another European war? Our thoughts are with the many Ukrainians who will be fearing for their lives and their loved ones. Unimaginable and desperate times. Yesterday there were 50km long queues of people on the roads escaping their country.

We often ask despairingly, ‘But what can we do?’ Chichester and surrounding towns have a long and proud history of helping refugees who are fleeing their country, war, terror and persecution. Let’s get behind our national and local charities who make refugees welcome.

In such desperate times it is important to think about the critical signposts that lead us to existing support groups, and charities who can help.

Charities and organisations that are well developed, professionally managed and work closely with partners here such as our county and district councils and overseas humanitarian organisations.

Sanctuary in Chichester, part of a nationwide charity, is the main community organisation that has wonderful support and volunteers from the area who have developed a full support programme with many initiatives to help and advise refugees and asylum seekers to settle and integrate, and find a pathway to work. They will be able to help if the government announce a Ukrainian resettlement programme, and Ukrainian refugees and asylum seekers make their way here.

So, do think about it and if you would like to volunteer and perhaps make a donation, do get in touch with them.

With the national charities like Refugee

Action, we can persuade the government to work with other countries as part of a planned humanitarian effort for Ukrainians escaping the horrors of war.

We must treat those who are forced to flee as we would want to be treated – with understanding, compassion and respect. So far, an estimated 300,000 Ukrainians have crossed into Poland, Hungary, Romania and Slovakia. With up to four million expected to flee in the coming days and weeks as fighting intensifies, charities are all saying Britain needs to create a safe and legal route to the UK. And commit to setting up an emergency Resettlement programme, taking up to 10,000 refugees a year from world-wide conflicts, which could immediately be opened to Ukrainians.

The present fast-moving crisis underlines the fact that many people caught in such conflicts simply cannot wait months or even years for visas or official paperwork.

It is also why the government needs to urgently rethink its flawed Nationality and Borders Bill, which has been condemned by the UNHCR, and astonishingly, would treat these people who are forced to make these perilous journeys to safety, as criminals.

On Monday night, the House of Lords voted to reject clauses of this Bill, in what campaigners have described as a ‘victory for compassion’.

We are calling for the UK to open its doors again and provide sanctuary for those who need it. Our citizens always rise to the occasion and are keen to help in any way they can.

And how can we support Ukrainians already living and working in the UK?

Many areas are now setting up support groups to offer friendly advice and support.

I came across nurses from Eastern Europe in hospital recently, all very worried.

There are about 70,000 Ukrainians in the UK, and the government is now considering to allow family members fleeing the war to join them here.

And please have a thought for the many Russian families who live in our district who are appalled at what they are seeing.

CHALONERCHUTE St Pancras Chichester