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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

See all MNHQ comments on this thread

Original poster

to be concerned about Ukranian refugees entering the country in large numbers?

220 replies

MaMaLa321 · 15/03/2022 11:03

I think that we have done the right thing, as a country, to allow Ukranian refugees to enter the UK. But does anyone else have concerns about how this will pan out?
For a start, we've spent 2 years in Lockdown, but the vaccination rate for Ukranians (for double vaccination) is only 34%.
What's the effect on our Social Services going to be?
FWIW, we have applied to house a refugee. It's just that I'm worried about the knock-on effects.
Also, will many Ukranians want to come here?

OP posts:
forinborin · 15/03/2022 11:06

Why do you think there should be an effect on Social Services?
You are allowing in a few thousand so far. Hardly a swarm.

miltonj · 15/03/2022 11:13

I couldn't care less about their rate of vaccination. I find it baffling that people are still going on about vaccine politics when we're talking about a humanitarian crisis. There are more important things.

luxxlisbon · 15/03/2022 11:15

You should probably cancel that application, it sounds like you haven’t thought this through.

noblegiraffe · 15/03/2022 11:17

There are about 18 million people in the U.K. who have not been double vaccinated so I don’t think unvaccinated Ukrainians are going to bump that number significantly.

Cyw2018 · 15/03/2022 11:19

We will gain people to work in the fields, factories and hospitality industry as well as presumably a number of highly skilled and experienced professionals across a range of industries, I'm sure, if we let them, they will settle in quickly and be an asset to the country and maybe some of the professionals (particualrly in healthcare) will be persuaded to stay permenently.

MrsSkylerWhite · 15/03/2022 11:20

Yes, YABU.

I don’t have latest figure but tens of thousands (I think hundreds of thousands? someone will know) of people from Hong Kong have made their homes in the UK in recent months.
Has that had any effect on your life? It hasn’t mine. I wouldn’t have noticed if I hadn’t come across an interesting article on Bloomberg.
Why will people from Ukraine make so much more of a difference?

WeDontShutUpAboutBruno · 15/03/2022 11:20

I don't think you should be applying.

This is giving "I'm not racist, I've generously housed a refugee, but..." vibes to me.

Shitfuckcommaetc · 15/03/2022 11:21

I think the real problems will be the lack of school places for children who are coming over, all schools near us are already oversubscribed.
If they need medical appointments... Same problem

amijustparanoidorjuststoned · 15/03/2022 11:24

As PP suggested, there are several million adults who are unvaccinated in the UK. A few extra thousand Ukraine refugees who may or may not have been vaccinated really won't make any difference.

I feel sad that this is your first thought when people have been bombed out of their homes. I would suggest you reconsider that application to house them.

MrsSkylerWhite · 15/03/2022 11:24

Some will be much needed doctors and medical staff.

Joinedforthis22 · 15/03/2022 11:26

Sounds like a DM journalist on the dig! Stir up some nice faux concern, and I'm doubting very much that you have applied to house a refugee!

SoftPillow · 15/03/2022 11:28

YABU and I think you know that. Goady post

thereisonlyoneofme · 15/03/2022 11:28

I think the Hong Kong people are funding and housing themselves arent they ? I hadnt realised that had actually come to pass as China had been threatening not to allow them to come

BattenbergdowntheHatches · 15/03/2022 11:31

This reply has been withdrawn

Message from MNHQ: This post has been withdrawn

caringcarer · 15/03/2022 11:37

I think government said it would.pay councils £10,500 per refugee and more for school aged children. Provided they are spread evenly throughout country it should be ok. It would be more difficult if most wanted to live in one area and not enough school places. I suspect they will be so glad to get away from the bombing they will be willing to go where school places and job opportunities are.

SafferUpNorth · 15/03/2022 11:38

What I'm worried about is the safety and wellbeing of traumatised, vulnerable women and children in British homes. Will those offering a spare room be vetted? What's stopping some sickos taking advantage of the scheme? Could become a modern slavery scenario.

Normandy144 · 15/03/2022 11:40

I'm not worried. We said goodbye to lots of valuable workers thanks to Brexit so this will help to plug that gap.

BattenbergdowntheHatches · 15/03/2022 11:40

This reply has been withdrawn

Message from MNHQ: This post has been withdrawn

Mirrorball2022 · 15/03/2022 11:42

The schooling/nhs point is a valid one. I work in the NHS and it’s slammed so of course additional people will add to that but so do children that are born and adults that live til a very old age. Schools are full and with their funding poor to the point teachers buy resources.

I can bet some areas will absolutely have more refugees than others. The area I work in already does have a vast amount from various places.

However I do agree with us helping these poor people out. Countries all over Europe are doing the same in much bigger numbers than we will I’m sure.

ThisIsGroundControl · 15/03/2022 11:44

@Normandy144

I'm not worried. We said goodbye to lots of valuable workers thanks to Brexit so this will help to plug that gap.
How do you come to that conclusion? Most refugees will be women with children ,the infirm and elderly. Those that are valuable workers are on the whole defending their country. Those that are coming are more likely to need schooling and medical support. That's not to say I don't welcome them I do, but the government needs to put in support for the NHS and schooling especially.
Nicholethejewellery · 15/03/2022 11:44

@SafferUpNorth

What I'm worried about is the safety and wellbeing of traumatised, vulnerable women and children in British homes. Will those offering a spare room be vetted? What's stopping some sickos taking advantage of the scheme? Could become a modern slavery scenario.
Yes there is a risk of abusive behaviour from both sides. From the migrants causing problems for the host or their neighbours, and from hosts applying to get some money from the government or force the migrants to work in conditions akin to slavery. This is particularly a risk because the migrants may end up being spread around the country and thus isolated from one another.

There's no easy solution of course because to give them proper support and protection they'd need to be housed together in what would effectively be an internment camp, albeit with the right to leave the country if they wanted.

So whatever is done (or not done) there will be abuses going on.

BringMeTea · 15/03/2022 11:46

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Normandy144 · 15/03/2022 11:48

Agreed but I am sure some will want to work if they can so I wouldn't want to deter them. Plus if they decide to settle here then they're husbands may join later.

Ponoka7 · 15/03/2022 11:50

@Normandy144
"I'm not worried. We said goodbye to lots of valuable workers thanks to Brexit so this will help to plug that gap"

All we needed was a benefit system which supported part time/seasonal working and we wouldn't have a gap.

If Covid suddenly doesn't matter then open up our GPs/walk ins. Stop with the questions/campaigns about us being vaccinated.

"Why do you think there should be an effect on Social Services?"
Who has been put in charge of safeguarding the children? Is it being handled by SS/Health or education's budgets?

ThePlantsitter · 15/03/2022 11:51

No. This is the very last thing that is concerning me right now.

I'll be interested to hear how your hosting experience goes!