The United Kingdom remains the only European country to request a visa for Ukrainians fleeing the war: Monday morning, March 14, only 4,000 of them had managed to obtain this sesame, after several days of waiting and tedious administrative procedures. But faced with pressure from the Labor opposition and that of British public opinion, for the moment largely in favor of more generosity, and faced with the beginnings of a revolt from its own elected Conservatives, the government of Boris Johnson softens – a little – the reception conditions.
Housing Minister Michael Gove announced on Monday that non-governmental organizations (NGOs), businesses or individuals applying to host refugees will be able to come forward on an online platform under a new scheme of reception: the “Homes for Ukraine”. The platform will be accessible to Ukrainians from March 18. Hosts will receive compensation of 350 pounds sterling (415 euros) per month per family hosted, for at least six months. Refugees will be able to work, access social services and the NHS (the healthcare system, free) – and stay in the country for up to three years.
Volunteers will have to find refugees themselves – through acquaintances, social networks or charities. Ukrainians wishing to come may very well have no acquaintances or family already settled there, but will have to undergo security checks to obtain a visa.
200,000 refugees expected
Asked about the BBC on Sunday, Michael Gove himself said ” think ” to welcome a Ukrainian refugee. The same goes for his colleagues Grant Shapps, the transport minister, and Sajid Javid, the health minister. Even Benedict Cumberbatch, the main actor of the series sherlock and of The Power of the dog (by Jane Campion, crowned best film at the Bafta, the British film awards, on Sunday), said he was voluntary.
On the other hand, Boris Johnson is not ready to open the doors of Downing Street or Checkers, his official weekend residence, “ For safety reasons “, a government spokesman said on Monday. According to an Opinium poll published in the newspaper The Observer Sunday, 9% of those polled said they were sure they wanted to host a Ukrainian refugee and 20% said they were thinking about it.
Michael Gove clarified that“there will be no limit on the number of refugees received in this way”. The Prime Minister had said at the beginning of March to expect the arrival “of at least 200,000 Ukrainian refugees”. In recent days, no one in the government has made any forecasts, while the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees estimated on Monday at 2.7 million people who had fled Ukraine since the start of the Russian invasion on 24 February.
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