Active discussions

Meet the Other Phone. Child-safe in minutes.

Meet the Other Phone.
Child-safe in minutes.

Buy now

Please or to access all these features

Talk
AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

Why Ukrainians treated differently from other refugees?

298 replies

Babymamamama · 30/07/2022 06:51

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?

OP posts:
babbez · 30/07/2022 13:58

This reply has been deleted

Message deleted by MNHQ. Here's a link to our Talk Guidelines.

Idiotic comment. Economic migrants from the Middle East. Oh how selfish, wanting a safe place to live and raise their family. Just say you're racist and be done with it. I'd respect you more.

How are Eastern European's more respectful? And people say racism isn't the reason. Love just grouped millions of black and brown people together.

Thatsenoughnow · 30/07/2022 13:58

Because they're white. It's as simple as that.

Thatsenoughnow · 30/07/2022 13:59

*There is a clear enemy in Russia

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

So if they were dressed in civvies, you'd know the difference between a man from Ukraine and a man from Russia?

babbez · 30/07/2022 14:01

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

What makes you think they're even strict Muslims? Or Muslims at all, in the case of refugees? It's just nonsense, you have no idea what their beliefs are, and the Middle Eastern people ive met, some Kurds, some Afghans mostly are not strict Muslims at all, they're just Muslims.

GrowlingManchego · 30/07/2022 14:02

People are racist. Afghan and Syrian refugees have all had every bit as difficult a time as Ukrainians, if not more so. Some Syrians were stuck in refugee camps in unsafe conditions without proper medical care for up to two years before coming to the UK.

HeleenaHandcart · 30/07/2022 14:20

Glitteratitar · 30/07/2022 13:42

This is a very recent thing, post the creation of Israel. There is not deep rooted anti Semitism. Muslims, Jews and Christians lived peacefully together for a long time.

Show quote history

The Crusades??? I don’t think Israel was causing the issues in the 11th century…
I mean ffs the 16th-18th centuries were basically entirely some flavour of European holy war at any one point!
The Greeks?
jeiwsh-roman wars???

We could write essays upon essays about wars from Antiquity onwards with religious factors…

I mean…. My mind is blown on that post

theyhavenothingbuttheaudacity · 30/07/2022 15:07

It's pretty simple really.
If someone in another towns house set fire I would think it was awful. If my neighbours house set fire and they lost everything I would want to as a neighbour be there to help and support them

Deidretheelf · 30/07/2022 15:13

Glitteratitar · 30/07/2022 13:43

I think there is more sympathy where a previously stable country has been obviously invaded by an outside attacker, vs countries which are unstable and plagued by civil war and similar internal conflict

cough cough Iraq…

Um. Perhaps read a little about the history of Iraq. I wouldn’t describe a country where resistance had been brutally repressed by a dictator as ‘stable’.

happinessischocolate · 30/07/2022 15:13

Luredbyapomegranate · 30/07/2022 11:43

It’s a combination of..

It’s a war in Europe, started by Russia, the old enemy of the West. It’s invasion on our doorstep. Given that Russia is also entangled with the UK, it’s extra worrying. We feel nervous. We can relate.

They are white, which triggers both conscious and unconscious bias

Most want to go home eventually

Yep because Ukraine is sooo much closer to the UK than places like Syria and turkey, yep it's right on our doorstep ! 🤦‍♀️

GrowlingManchego · 30/07/2022 15:31

Most want to go home eventually

Where does this idea come from that other refugees don’t want to go home. People from Syria and Afghanistan I’ve met who are living in the UK would love to go home if safe and feasible to do so. The adults are homesick!

Bubblebubblebah · 30/07/2022 16:26

I don't get why people are not understanding the aimple thing of "it's local to us". I am not seeing Middle East and further taking them. Why? Because it's not lical to them. Of course people care more about what is happening on their continent and threatens them.
Plus... Russia🤷🏻
There is most likely cultural and race element to some extent, but frankly, it all comes down to "people care about what's on their doorstep more then about what's happening 3 villages over"

figtrees · 30/07/2022 17:05

I think there's been so many long term conflicts in the middle East people have become matter of fact about it. Also internal fighting with no clear aggressor.

Ukraine was attacked by a super power and have fought doggedly to protect their land. They want to go home and are not economic migrants.

There are a lot of stories of refugees from the middle east being terrorist and using asylum to enter the UK. I am in no way suggesting that all or even a lot are terrorists, but if I told you one candy in the jar was poisoned would you eat one because it was unlikely anything bad would happen? Inviting refugees in to your home is already a hard decision, without potential danger.

Personally, I've been to Ukraine, in fact I almost bought an apartment there in 2019. I speak some Ukrainian. So for me it comes to personally having more of a connection to the people and the country.

Bubblebubblebah · 30/07/2022 17:15

There are millions of people who had to leave Venezuela....
3 villages over, example...

Newrumpus · 30/07/2022 17:16

Thatsenoughnow · 30/07/2022 13:58

Because they're white. It's as simple as that.

Again! This may be your reason but do not assume that this attitude is wide spread. Many abhorrent views expressed on this thread.

pieami · 30/07/2022 17:22

Media use very different language and tones when speaking about Ukranians compared to Afghans/Syrians/Iraqis. A disgrace really. Has highlighted the double standards that exist

Fancydancer1934 · 30/07/2022 17:40

Ironfloor269 · 30/07/2022 06:56

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

Well that didn't take long at all. So the English are racist - all of them? Or just the white ones.

Divisive post yet again.

Fancydancer1934 · 30/07/2022 17:51

Itisasecret · 30/07/2022 09:51

Because underneath it all there is a lot of racism
and xenophobia in the UK.

And in many other countries too I believe

blubbabubba · 30/07/2022 17:53

Well that didn't take long at all. So the English are racist - all of them? Or just the white ones.

Any comment on the posts disparaging refugees or not so bothered about that, just people's reactions to it? And it's the general attitude, not you personally.

oopsididitagin · 30/07/2022 17:55

Because white people are a bunch of racists and can only bear to invite similarly white people to share into their cosy home and family life. I can't see that there needs to be any more nuance or critical thinking than that, it's such an easy conclusion for anyone to draw

BelleMarionette · 30/07/2022 17:55

In the media, the images of Ukrainian refugees are overwhelmingly women and children: often mothers clutching young children and babies.

For other countries' refugees, they are often portrayed to be young single men. These are seen to be more of a threat, and families are understandably more willing to open their homes to women and children, than single men.

Fancydancer1934 · 30/07/2022 18:02

oopsididitagin · 30/07/2022 17:55

Because white people are a bunch of racists and can only bear to invite similarly white people to share into their cosy home and family life. I can't see that there needs to be any more nuance or critical thinking than that, it's such an easy conclusion for anyone to draw

Are you white? What have YOU done personally to help?

Pleaseaddcaffine · 30/07/2022 18:05

Because simply they are an invaded country rather than an internal conflict.
This isn't true of those displaced by internal conflict.
It's significantly different and its an European war which also makes it significantly different.

IcedPurple · 30/07/2022 19:17

They want to go home and are not economic migrants.

I'm sure that's true for many, but how can you possibly make such a broad statement?

If, as you say, you have lived in Ukraine, you must know that many were desperate to leave even before the war. Ukraine was one of the biggest sources of economic migrants in Europe. But now none of them are economic migrants and all really want to go home?

Kidsaretryingtodestroyme · 30/07/2022 19:22

I keep hearing Ukraine is culturally similar to the U.K. can someone please explain how?

IcedPurple · 30/07/2022 19:48

Pleaseaddcaffine · 30/07/2022 18:05

Because simply they are an invaded country rather than an internal conflict.
This isn't true of those displaced by internal conflict.
It's significantly different and its an European war which also makes it significantly different.

Why is it 'significantly different'?

Why is someone displaced in an internal conflict less 'deserving' than someone displaced in an invasion by an outside power? Especially as much of Ukraine is relatively safe, with life going on pretty much as normal in large parts of the country.