Mass exodus from Ukraine sparks calls for Johnson to help refugees
PM urged to waive visa rules and offer asylum as 100,000 cross border into Poland to flee Russians
ALMOST 116,000 people have fled Ukraine since Russia’s invasion began on Thursday, the UN said yesterday, as Boris Johnson faced calls to offer “sanctuary” to those wishing to leave the country.
The United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees said that the number of Ukrainians crossing into neighbouring countries such as Poland, Hungary, Moldova, Slovakia and Romania was “changing every minute”.
Poland said some 100,000 people had crossed into the country, including 9,000 in the space of just a few hours yesterday morning.
Boris Johnson said last night that the UK would “of course” take in Ukrainians trying to leave. He added: “This country has had a historic and proud role of taking refugees from all conflicts.” Yesterday, Julian Smith, the former Conservative chief whip, and Chris Bryant, the Labour former minister, were among senior MPs calling for the UK to open its doors to offer asylum and waive visa requirements for those fleeing Ukraine.
It is likely that ministers will consider such an offer, but sources insisted that the Government’s priority in the meantime should be helping countries such as Poland, to which tens of thousands of Ukrainians have already fled.
Mr Smith said: “Rip up the usual bureaucracy and let’s just say they are welcome and we will make it as easy as possible to be here.”
Mr Bryant said: “I can’t believe we’re not offering asylum and waiving visas for those fleeing Ukraine.”
He cited a YouGov poll showing that six in 10 would support introducing a scheme to resettle Ukrainian refugees.
Yasmin Qureshi, a Labour MP whose Bolton South East seat has a longstanding Ukrainian community, said of those fleeing Ukraine: “A lot of them have family and friends here. If they’re able to come out, there should be something done to help people to come here.”
But, responding to the calls by the MPs, one Government source said: “It’s easy for those who don’t have to implement this to make calls like this. Of course we will play our part in the international humanitarian response. But we have to all work together on this.”
On Friday, Afshan Khan, Unicef ’s regional director for Europe and Central Asia, said that they were “looking at ranges of one to three million” Ukrainians fleeing to Poland, and a total of up to five million including other surrounding countries as well.
Save the Children and Amnesty International have said the UK should play a leading role in providing sanctuary. On Thursday, Priti Patel, the Home Secretary, announced that Ukrainian nationals within the existing pointsbased immigraiton system could extend their leave in the UK, while those on visitors visas could “exceptionally switch into a points-based system immigration route without having to leave the UK”.
Yesterday, the Home Office said it had “not stopped accepting visa applications from Ukrainians” after claims sparked by a notice on the gov.uk website stating: “The UK Visa Application Centre (VAC) in Kyiv is now closed and all UK visa services in Kyiv are suspended.”
A row erupted last night when Kevin Foster, the immigration minister, said on social media that there were “a number of routes” through which Ukrainians could qualify for entry into the UK, such as the seasonal worker scheme.
Luke Pollard, the shadow armed forces minister, responded: “If your hot take on the refugee crisis is to say that those fleeing war in Ukraine can pick fruit in February on farms in Britain I think you may need to think again.
“We need a proper safe route to sanctuary for people fleeing Ukraine. This is not it.”
The Home Office added: “The UK Government has an extensive visa application centre network in neighbouring countries. Ukrainians in these countries can access these services.”