Trapped by red tape, the ‘Angel of Mostar’ and her 167 refugees
AN AID worker known as the ‘Angel of Mostar’ says she is stuck in Poland with 167 vulnerable Ukrainian refugees because of redtape that is preventing them coming to the UK.
Sally Becker, who helped rescue hundreds of people from war-torn Bosnia, has ‘grave concerns’ for the women and children after their paperwork was rejected by British officials.
The 58-year-old said she set off on the mission to save orphaned youngsters and mothers with the full acknowledgement of the British Government last month.
She said many of the refugees came from areas where there was fierce fighting. They had made a 22-hour train journey, collecting more children en route who escaped from places like Mariupol, before crossing into Poland.
But when they were ready to travel to the UK, Mrs Becker says the Home Office asked for more evidence that the Ukrainian government had sanctioned the evacuation. As a result, their flight booked for yesterday had to be cancelled.
She now says the group has just days to find a solution or will have ‘nowhere to go’, adding: ‘I’m completely dependent on the British Government to help me bring these children to a safe haven in the UK.
‘We’ve got grandmothers given custody of children because their parents have either been killed or had to fight. We have children who have been deprived of parents since birth. Many are extremely vulnerable and really need help.’ Mrs Becker explained how she set off for Dnipro at the end of April. At that point, she claimed there was no problem obtaining permission to bring the children to the UK.
She gathered 167 refugees and negotiated safe passage to the Polish border through the Ukrainian government. She said they ‘arranged for three carriages to be attached to the train especially for the children’.
Mrs Becker said plans are in place to allow the refugees to stay at two hotels on the Wirral, Merseyside, with a six-month stay funded by The Steve Morgan Foundation.
It’s understood Ukraine’s deputy prime minister has written to minister for refugees Lord Harrington confirming they have been aware of her mission since April 22.
A Home Office spokesman said last night: ‘We can only give permission for an unaccompanied child to travel where we are certain they will have appropriate support and care once they are here. We are speaking to Sally Becker and the authorities in Ukraine to reach a solution.’