The point is that a sizeable number of people need support. And there are limitations to the number that can be supported by others.
If you are in western Ukraine and have a home and job and a social network to support you, is your need to leave the same as someone who is homeless, jobless and has lost everyone around them.
Many hosts thought they would be taking in people who were homeless or indeed had already left Ukraine. They responded to pictures on the TV of people in refugee camps just fleeing.
Its hard to class someone in 'dire need' if after getting their visa they decide to stay in Ukraine for another 6 weeks so they can work their job notice and the kids can finish the school year and they live 20 miles from the Polish border. That's perhaps 'at risk' but not 'dire need' by anyones logic. That's not to take aware from the real risk, but there is a clear difference. The problem is, and part of my original point was, indeed how do you decide who is 'deserving' or undeserving as a host or during a beaucratic process without risking screwing over those are really in dire need? I think locally there were a good few hosts faced with this dilemma but they did decide to give the benefit of the doubt rather than to change their minds and say 'oh your sob story isn't up to scratch'.
The problem here is that if you have left more on your own terms, your reasoning to come to the UK is likely to not just be based on the risk. Its a reality that certainly has come through when I've talk to people. It's about how your life might be better than in even prewar Ukraine because there is a greater element of choice involved or its about dodging conscription (I'm sorry but I fail to understand how someone who is a HGV driver and is working as an HGV driver in the Uk is managing to get a legitimate medical exemption from all service. Especially when one of the biggest problems they are having is with logistics! I personally can NAME three host who have men staying with them who are licensed HGV drivers in their 30s or 40s). And whilst I sympathise with families not wanting their father/husband to serve even in a none front line role, I find it a hard square to circle in terms of the concept of 'dire need'. Two of those HGV drivers had jobs lined up here BEFORE they arrived in the country too.
Its also worth pointing out, that many from the east are still choosing to remain in Ukraine rather than leave despite the threat because they realise the importance of having people around them who understand what they are all going through and having common language. Equally many from the West have realised that they were better off in Ukraine. I know of one lady who returned to ensure she finished the year in employment so she could get her full pension. She had left thinking the war would only last a couple of months. I think we will see more returning as the reality dawns that its more likely to be years and that means that you may have to really commit to living outside the Ukraine on a longer term basis.
This is why you are getting something of a tension between West and Eastern Ukrainians in the UK because of the reasons behind why they have left. The Eastern Ukrainians are recognising that hosts are sacrifing a lot because of their circumstances and feel that many of the western Ukrainians are almost taking advantage of the situation. Especially if they include those who have come amid rumours of a golden land of free housing.
I think its really difficult. And I never suggested otherwise.
But you are getting hosts caught up in this mess and the decisions of other people which they then are finding themselves something at the mercy of, when their guest isn't making or even thinking about a exit plan at the end of 6 months.