The United Kingdom is softening its stance on immigrants now that war has broken out in Eastern Europe. There will be no cap on the number of refugees the U.K. admits under a new visa program designed to help Ukrainians fleeing the conflict in their country.
Countries around the world have opened their arms to refugees fleeing the conflict, but the U.K. has been slow to ease the transition. The Refugee Council, a U.K. charity that works with refugees and asylum-seekers, has criticized the government for not waiving visa requirements like European Union countries have.
British Health and Social Care Secretary Sajid Javid told the BBC he was “pleased” the government was expanding the new program.
“I’m pleased that we’re doing this because as a country we have a very proud record of offering sanctuary to people from wars and from conflicts,” Javid said.
UK TO PAY CITIZENS MORE THAN $400 A MONTH TO HOST UKRAINIAN REFUGEES
Monday’s announcement comes on the heels of intense criticism of the way the country has handled the refugee crisis. The U.K. Home Office struggled under the pressure of refugees flooding the country from Afghanistan after the Taliban retook control. The country also received tens of thousands of people fleeing Hong Kong after China cracked down on the autonomous special administrative region last year.
The new “Homes for Ukraine” builds on a previous program that allowed roughly 4,000 Ukrainian refugees into the country if they had an immediate or extended family member in the country. Under the program, refugees will not have to show they have any familial ties. It appears that the Home Office will still run security checks on refugees, a move that garnered criticism but that officials said is necessary as they have seen people falsely claim to be Ukrainian.
Homes for Ukraine will allow individuals and families to host refugees. Ukrainians who come to the U.K. as part of the program will have full access to the National Health Service, and their children can attend local schools. Javid said refugees can stay in the country for “at least three years.”
To help fund the program, the government is providing 350 pounds a month for hosts, and localities will receive at least 10,500 pounds in funding for each refugee and more for children attending schools.
Britons famously voted to exit the EU in 2016, partially because it wanted more control over its borders.
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As of March 13, the United Nations reported that 2.8 million people have fled Ukraine since the conflict began on Feb. 24. Poland continues to see the bulk of refugees. It has received more than 1.7 million since the war broke out. However, the U.N. noted that figures for Poland, Hungary, and Slovakia only represent the number of refugees who have crossed their borders. The U.N. estimated that roughly 4 million people will attempt to flee Ukraine.
