I know that residents across Ruislip, Northwood and Pinner are continuing to make great efforts to support those who have been forced to flee their homes because of the Russian invasion of Ukraine. As President Zelenskyy said when he spoke directly to Parliament recently, “we are looking for help from civilised countries, and we are thankful for this help”.
As such, I thought it would be helpful to provide an update from Ministers at the FCDO and DCMS on the best ways to do this.
How Government is supporting Ukraine’s immediate humanitarian needs
The UK has now committed £394m in aid, including £220m in humanitarian assistance which will be used to save lives; and protect vulnerable people inside Ukraine and in the wider region.
The Government’s focus is on supporting the UN and other humanitarian partners to respond effectively to the deteriorating humanitarian situation; as well as strengthen the effectiveness of the overall international humanitarian response.
Advice for the public and organisations
We welcome the public’s eagerness and generosity to support the people of Ukraine at this time of crisis. It is fantastic that the Disasters Emergency Committee’s appeal for Ukraine has now reached more than £130m, including £25m in government funding, our largest ever aid-match donation.
Details of the appeal and how to donate can be found on: www.DEC.org.uk
We do, however, request that organisations and people who would like to help do so by donating cash through trusted charities and aid organisations, rather than by donating goods. The Polish Embassy in London also reiterated this request in their statement of 01 March.
Cash can easily and safely be transferred quickly to areas where it’s needed. Individuals and aid organisations can then use it to buy what’s most appropriate at that moment. If your constituents or organisations have excess donated goods, they could consider donating these to a charity shop who may, depending on the nature of these items, be able to sell these to raise cash which may support the Ukraine crisis. Alternatively, local fund-raising efforts using donated goods can also raise cash.
Unsolicited donations of goods, although well-meant, can obstruct supply chains and delay more urgent life-saving assistance from getting through given the huge logistical and coordination challenges associated with handling and onward distribution. Goods provided may not be what is most needed and run the risk of not reaching affected populations, including looting and theft or being sold further on informal markets thereby distorting the local economy. Distribution is difficult to control and manage well, particularly in conflict affected contexts – the most vulnerable like women, the elderly, disabled and children often do not receive goods.
If members of the public or organisations would still like to take forward a donation of goods, we encourage them to reach out to a charity or organising body based in country to establish what is needed and how to deliver it safely before they begin to collect goods.
Once this has been done, to help facilitate transportation the Government has removed the requirement to complete unfamiliar customs paperwork. Guidance can be found here and an Export Support Service helpline available on 0300 303 8955. Charities can also contact their online support team here.
We will continue to update you and keep you abreast of developments as the situation continues to evolve.
With thanks to you and your constituents for their generous offers of help. We have also included a link to more information on what your constituents and local charities can do to help the people of Ukraine.
Homes for Ukraine
Furthermore, the Government launched the Homes for Ukraine scheme on 14 March. Since then, an incredible 150,000 members of the public have recorded their interest in supporting people fleeing the conflict in Ukraine. Only some of those who have recorded their interest will ultimately become sponsors, but it is yet again a reminder of the extraordinary generosity of the British public. Those who don’t end up sponsoring guests from Ukraine in their homes will nonetheless be able to play an important role in helping to welcome those arriving from Ukraine and ensuring they integrate effectively into our society. On Friday, the application portal for Phase One of the scheme opened and the first visas were issued over the weekend. Applications are welcome from those who wish to travel to the UK, and who have named people in the UK willing to sponsor them. The application form can be completed either by the sponsor in the UK, or by the Ukrainian applicant. One form is required per individual coming to the UK. The form is available here, along with information on how to apply.
People arriving under this scheme will be able to live and work in the UK for up to three years, accessing healthcare, benefits, employment support, education, and English language tuition. The government will need to make changes to legislation to enable this.
We know our charities, faith groups, universities, businesses, and industry representative bodies will have extensive networks with communities and individuals across Europe. We will be working closely with all of them to ensure people who want to help are matched to people from Ukraine. We will provide further detail on the support they are able to provide shortly.
A list of FAQs is available online here and will be kept updated, along with guidance for local authorities.
Support for Afghan Refugees
We should also not forget those who were forced to flee Afghanistan last summer and were welcomed to the UK through the Afghan Citizens Resettlement Scheme.
I would like to point residents to some helpful information on operation 'Warm Welcome', the cross-government effort to ensure those evacuated from Afghanistan can settle permanently, contribute to their communities, and rebuild their lives here in the UK. The Government launched a bespoke housing portal to enable members of the public to offer their homes. Further details can be found online here.
I also understand that the Government will launch a community sponsorship scheme to allow community groups to play a direct role in supporting the resettlement and integration of people in need from Afghanistan.
Photo Credit: Angelica Gonzalez-Blanco (angelicagonzalezblanco.com)
