Why Ukrainians treated differently from other refugees?

[Babymamamama]

Disclaimer I’m not a current affairs specialist and not trying to start a bun fight this is a genuine question.
Aibu to ask why it is Ukranian refugees have on appearance been treated so differently from other groups fleeing dreadful conflicts in their home country. I’m specifically thinking of Afghan and Syrian nationals as they are the two groups I’m most aware of.

Round my way people have been hosting Ukrainians, clubbing together as whole streets to contribute to flat deposits, gathering up household items to set up Ukrainians in their temporary homes, holding fundraising concerts. It’s all all admirable and I myself have also contributed where I could. But a lingering question remains -why for this group and not the others? Is this unconscious bias? Why the difference in approach and treatment? Not wanting to offend but something about this doesn’t sit well with me. Can anyone with more knowledge of world affairs enlighten me please?

One practical thing is that many more afghan refugees have large families who most couldn’t host

They're white and Christian?

Because they’re clearly refugees who are displaced by war who want to go back to Ukraine. Harder to be sympathetic to economic migrants or people whose country is destroyed by long term internal infighting. I’m not saying this is morally right.

Their country is on the same continent as ours and therefore its easier to travel?

I think @CathyTheQueen got it right. The English are deep down rather racist so generally support caucasians over dark skinned people.

There is a clear enemy in Russia

In Afghanistan and Syria you wouldn't know if you were helping a friend or foe

The media did a good job of hyping up taking in Ukrainian refugees and making people feel like they’re doing a good deed because of it (not saying they’re not) but I’ve honestly never seen that level of attention for any other refugees. Pp is right, likely because Ukrainians are white

More culturally identifiable?

It would be difficult to house a strict Muslim family with a liberal atheist family for example.

Culturally they’re worlds apart with little commonalities.

Absolute rubbish

I think there is also the view that Ukraine is a democratic country, but it seems that no side in Afghanistan or Syria really has western democratic values.

Agree

Thanks all for your input so far. Lots to think about. Makes me see there are myriad reasons that could be offered (none of which I find wholly justifiable). My local council even has specialist advisers to assist with displaced Ukrainian nationals, linking them up with local residents. Makes me feel I should challenge this and enquire why just for this one group if they call themselves an “anti racist” local authority.

The vast majority of Ukrainian refugees are women and children, who want to go home to their husbands/brothers/dads who have stayed to fight.

The vast majority of Afghan refugees are young men. People are understandably much less willing to house an unknown single man in their home than a vulnerable woman with children.

Regular Afghans are perfectly nice people. Who lived under a hellish regime and were forced to live a puritanical lifestyle at the threat of death, it doesn't mean they're actually want to live like that! Not all afghans are even Muslim, there are smaller ethnicity groups. So yes, racism and ignorance is a big one.

Why are you singling out “the English”? This is the UK.

Based in Nicola Sturgeon’s Scotland by any chance? Where the rise of anglophobia continues…

Impact of social media, which got people talking about it - when there was a genocidal 'ethnic cleansing' war in Europe in the 1990s, which led to about 1.7m displaced people (so not that different) the response was totally different (read 'lacking').

But still way more international attention and peacekeeping attempts than for the genocidal conflict in Rwanda at the same time

Also, regarding your council’s response - this war resulted in a flood of refugees in a short space of time, so there are lots of people and families needing those groups/links etc.

Afghan refugees have been dripping into the country for years, it’s not a big rush, so tthe need to settle isolated people isn’t as big.

That would be Taliban, IS and the rest, not ordinary Afghans. That's the equivalent of lumping murderous Russian soldiers with their victims because they're both about the same colour.

I don't think any ordinary Afghans, Iraqis or Syrians have done that either

Because they're European which makes them our neighbours, which means the media has handled it very differently. I do think proximity has something to do with it.

I take it back, my premise was wrong. A Ukrainian has committed terrorism in the UK in the past ten years.

en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pavlo_Lapshyn

a) Because the UK and Russia have long jad a strained relationship and rhus we regard Russia as potentially a direct threat. They need to be beaten in Ukraine if possible or who knows where they'll go next. Taking refugees is one way to support the effort.

b) Because those fleeing are mainly woman and children and people have a different gut response to this than they do single men.

c) there's some cultural overlap.

d) the government never set up a similar scheme for other refugees..The last time I'm aware of that so much effort went into persuading the British to take complete strangers was for evacuees and the Kinder transport during / just before world war 2

e. Poland is a long standing friend and couldn't cope. The UK needed to take some of the overflow and this was a way for the governem to get an already outraged public ( see reason a) to help

We've 3 Ukranians here at home right now. They've been here 3 months. The mother works. They buy their own food, clothes and other personal needs and offer to help with bills but for now we are using the £350 to help cover extra costs and encouraging them to save their money.

I'm glad we did this but was influenced in my choice by all the matters above.. the final reason being we are lucky enough to have enough space and money to help.

There is more sympathy towards Ukrainians here than Afghans just like in the Middle East there is more sympathy to Syrian refugees than Ukrainians. I think people sympathise more when it's someone that looks like them or it happened close enough to them.

I think some people underestimate the cultural differences with Ukrainians. I saw this news about a Ukrainian woman refusing a host because he is in a same sex couple. Many Ukrainians are very religious with strong stereotypical gender roles and anti abortion/LGB etc.

I am totally against the Russian invasion and understand that Ukraine is European but I would say Ukraine (and Eastern Europe) have more in common with Russian culture than British or Western European cultures. It's very uncomfortable to say but I think the fact they are white is why they got more sympathy here.

I am for all refugees receiving support and help so I don't begrudge Ukrainians being treated well at all however I wish that kindness and hospitality was extended to all refugees... but I acknowledge that human nature means this is unrealistic and an idealistic view. People are very much tribal and look out more for ones that are similar to them. It's a little bit like Missing White Woman Syndrome.

This...
CathyTheQueen · Today 06:53

They're white and Christian?