The British government announced today that it has issued 41,000 visas to Ukrainians as part of programs aimed at helping refugees go to Britain, amid criticism that the application process is too time-consuming and complicated.
Last month, Britain launched two programs to help Ukrainians, one for those already relatives in the UK and one to allow refugees trying to escape the war to stay with Britons who offer them accommodation.
According to the latest figures, almost 80,000 applications have been submitted. For the 36,300 submitted under the ‘family’ program, 28,500 visas were issued and 10,800 people were admitted.
For the “Houses for Ukraine” program, only 12,500 out of 43,600 applications were issued. As of Tuesday, only 1,200 refugees had arrived in Britain under the program, according to figures.
Participants in it, Ukrainians and Britons who open their homes to refugees, have criticized it as too bureaucratic and complicated, meaning some refugees have been in a vacuum for weeks waiting to travel to Britain despite ready accommodation. for them.
The government says it is working as fast as it can to help these people, stressing that it is the largest and fastest refugee process in its history.
Home Secretary Priti Patel acknowledged that the situation was dire and said hundreds of officials were working on visas and providing assistance to refugees.
She said security checks are not a problem but the aim is to ensure that those who arrive have the necessary documents that give them the right to work and send their children to school.
“We have to make sure they are protected in the UK as well,” she told the BBC.
Refugee Secretary Richard Harrington acknowledged this week that “things are not going well” with the visa system but promised it would be simplified.
The United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) has said more than 4 million people have fled Ukraine and most are fleeing to neighboring countries, with other European countries not requiring visas to enter.
Source: Capital
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