Anyone else aghast at UK Government's reluctance to allow Ukrainian mothers and children into the country?

[BoffinMum]

I'm aware that a lot of mothers and children are leaving Ukraine as fast as possible (I gather it's illegal for men between 18 and 60 to leave the country at the moment as they will be needed for fighting). I'm also aware that I have a big and very comfy spare room at the moment and it could easily make life a lot easier for a mum with a kid or two in tow, rather than them sitting traumatised on a camp bed on the Polish border. If a family got on a plane in Poland now they could be tucking their kids up in my house in comfort tonight, but Border Control wouldn't let them through right now. I am massively frustrated, to say the least, that the UK Government is being so stupid about visas - the idea that women and children fleeing a war should have to apply to pick fruit (in February! FFS!) or rock up to apply for a work visa at £1200+ with proof of earnings massively in excess of the UK average wage is just wrong IMO. I wish there was something we could do. Like today.

There are plenty of other refugees who would be desperate for your spare room.

Have you never thought about housing them?

I'm already heavily involved in related initiatives doing that, Liberty. You've made a few assumptions in your post, haven't you?

Are you saying you've been putting up refugees in your home or not?

It's difficult to tell from your post? But if you have, you'll know that there are still loads of desperate people you can continue to house - just not from Ukraine at the moment.

Liberty, it says everything in the post you need to know. This is a thread about current visa issues in the UK for Ukranians, not wider asylum policies. Perhaps you could share your thoughts on that for the benefit of the wider readership.

Are there lots of people like you though OP, who are willing to give up their spare rooms to house asylum seekers? I'm guessing not (could be wrong of course) in which case the UK government needs to work on the basis that if they're allowing people to come here they need to be able to house them too.

My thoughts are that there are plenty of internet virtue signalers around at the moment, due to the war on Ukraine.

That's not enough for the government to act on and agree to let people in, only to find the offers of homes were meaningless.

It's early days yet but we'll see what the government can come up with.

@BoffinMum that's so lovely that you already take asylum seekers in. That's such a kind thing to do. Hopefully there will be a point when Ukrainian refugees will be able to use your spare room too.

What afterwards, though, assuming that those women and children can't safely fly back to Kyiv next week in the happy knowledge it's all over? These things have to be thought through and long-term supportable.

I do wonder how many of the people anguishing themselves online about the fate of Ukrainians right now have lost as much sleep over Afghan refugees, or Syrian, or the Uighurs, or for that matter the Tibetans.

@WorraLiberty

My thoughts are that there are plenty of internet virtue signalers around at the moment, due to the war on Ukraine.

That's not enough for the government to act on and agree to let people in, only to find the offers of homes were meaningless.

It's early days yet but we'll see what the government can come up with.

Absolutely.

Poland is doing an excellent job of welcoming refugees, and many are meeting family members who have come to collect them. Others are being put on buses and taken to community centres and stadia where they will be more comfortable.

Geographically speaking across Europe, the UK is a rather long way from Ukraine. There are many other nearer countries with land borders, and it would be far easier for the refugees to all be spread throught mainland Europe into countries which are much closer. This needs to be done quickly, and shorter journeys would be logistically more feasible.

I can understand your sentiments though.

It's rather a long way to come, and we dont have the space to house a lot of them as lets not kid ourselves that this will be over and Ukraine safe by the weekend.

My town took in Afghan refugees and they are still in a hotel, no housing to be found!!

So chances are the Ukrainians will find things move "comfortable" for want of a better phrase in a larger country, that has more space and could build refugee camps.

I'm all for taking in refugees and asylum seekers, but we dont want to bring them here and cause them more hardship after what they have already been through. When they could (and have) travelled less miles for some accommodation.

It's lovely that you are willing but we need to be patient, it's been less than a week, legislation takes time, the minister simply mentioned an existing visa scheme that they can use.

Some groups with family members willing to sponsor them are being fast tracked currently and we are all hoping that people can actually go home rather than be refugees

I asked dp his thoughts. We could potentially offer 2 spare rooms and a bathroom... top floor of our townhouse

But he said no so I have to respect that. Would love to help in that way.

@GirlInACountrySong, but you say yes, so does your dh not have to respect that? Or is he the head of the household and you are the underling?

[quote Wartywart]@GirlInACountrySong, but you say yes, so does your dh not have to respect that? Or is he the head of the household and you are the underling?[/quote]
Don’t be ridiculous.
He has the right to veto a change to the status quo. In any event, how welcome would refugees feel in a house where one person didn’t want them to be there?

That is just simply not the case.

[quote Wartywart]@GirlInACountrySong, but you say yes, so does your dh not have to respect that? Or is he the head of the household and you are the underling?[/quote]
So you'd move strangers into your home if the other family members weren't happy or comfortable with it?

Something like that has to be a joint decision.

There are currently around 40 wars going on around the world, mostly in Africa, but also across vast swathes of the middle east and Asia.
Why aren't people worrying about the millions of women and children caught up in them?

We should allow them to come in and house them in the empty properties belonging to the Russian Oligarchy.

I agree with you, Boffinmum. I hope this will change in the near future. There may be a way round it, ask the Quakers who are very good at that sort of thing.

@Ifailed

There are currently around 40 wars going on around the world, mostly in Africa, but also across vast swathes of the middle east and Asia. Why aren't people worrying about the millions of women and children caught up in them?

Exactly, this was my earlier point. Refugees have always needed homes.

It seems almost 'fashionable' (for want of a better word) for people to suddenly claim they're willing to put Ukrainian refugees up at the moment. Which is what makes me wonder how genuine some people are.

Well from the op's very snippy response to your reasonable point @WorraLiberty I suspect that you are right, I think you hit a nerve there with @BoffinMum given that weird triggered response.

Lilifer, I currently help run a refugee charity in my spare time, so enough with the Whataboutery nonsense. Let’s stay on topic and talk visas.

@BoffinMum

Lilifer, I currently help run a refugee charity in my spare time, so enough with the Whataboutery nonsense. Let’s stay on topic and talk visas.

And it's only just occurred to you that you could be housing refugees, due to the war in Ukraine?

You're only willing to offer that room to refugees who are unable to stay in it?