WJR pauses scheme for hosts after being flooded with offers

WORLD JEWISH Relief has stopped taking new offers from potential hosts of Ukrainian refugees, having been inundated with volunteers.

The humanitarian aid charity said it had been humbled by over 1,500 offers of accommodation and help.

“Our heartfelt thanks go out to every single person who has made the generous decision to offer their home and support.

“To date, the number of Ukrainians looking to come to the UK is very small, although we are aware that this might change over the coming weeks and months.

“As such, unfortunately we cannot say ‘yes’ to everyone who has generously offered their homes.”

The charity would be focusing on matching Ukrainians arriving here with sponsorship offers, initially “within a specific London borough where we will work with the local council, prioritising accommodation which is most self-contained. This will give us an opportunity to understand the challenges within the process and improve future placements.”

In Ukraine, WJR has established a major pipeline for humanitarian aid via Poznan in Poland to Lviv — and from there, to other areas. The operation is being led by its partners on the ground.

It has committed to supply 42,000 ration packs, designed for those on the move, providing three meals for recipients over a 24-hour period.

Meanwhile, some 2,335 households have signed up to host refugees in an initiative by Rabbi Jonathan Romain with UK charity Refugees At Home. It has now started to match Ukrainians with families.