More than 200,000 Britons have enrolled in the government program that allows UK donors to “match” Ukrainians fleeing war. A total of 1,200 refugees have arrived under the program so far, while another 10,800 have joined the family program, which allows Ukrainian refugees to reunite with relatives in Britain. However, while the government claims that unaccompanied children are not eligible for either program, The Independent is aware of cases in which minors have been granted visas and arrived in the UK without a legal guardian. Authorities warn that gaps in the control process mean cases are “falling into the net”, raising concerns about exploitation and trafficking, with more than 4.5 million children from Ukraine displaced in recent weeks, some of whom have been separated from their parents and family. The Local Government Association (LGA), which represents the councils, said authorities saw only children coming without any adults with parental responsibility or care. The Independent raises money for the people of Ukraine – if you want to donate, click here for our GoFundMe page. Refugees from Ukraine in temporary accommodation in Krakow, Poland (Anadolu Agency via Getty) Lisa Nadi, the shadow secretary of the Labor Party, said local authorities and charities were receiving “very little information and support” on how to react. Describing the situation as “shameful”, he added: “This has always been a danger with this DIY program for refugees. The government should have been sponsoring donors to the refugees from day one. “Before Michael Gove launched Homes for Ukraine, he did not even pick up the phone at councils and charities – the people who would be responsible for caring for vulnerable children.” The LGA said it was “unclear” whether councils were expected to take unaccompanied children into care. In one case, an unaccompanied child recently joined Redbridge’s board after being assigned to an unrelated adult under the Homes for Ukraine program. The council said it had no safeguards concerns about the case, but would continue to work with the Home Office to better understand the safeguards checks made during the match agreement. The British have opened their homes to refugees, but the process has been criticized as “DIY” (PA Wire) When applying to the Homes for Ukraine program – which can only happen after the applicant finds a sponsor who can host him / her in the UK – the “match” appears on a portal that can be accessed by local councils so that may begin to transfer assurance control. However, the LGA said that in some cases the councils are only informed about who arrives in their area once the games have taken place and a visa has been issued, with many reporting “significant issues” with the data. The organization also called for the councils to be notified in advance of new arrivals within the family system, especially if there are individuals or families with vulnerable problems, so that local services can meet their needs. Kevin Bonavia, of the Lewisham Council, said some locals had tried to match unaccompanied minors, adding: “Fortunately no one has been approved yet, but we are worried they will be approved and we will have to fight to intervene. “We have heard this happen in another council, so it is a real concern. “We can not allow vulnerable children to fall into the net.” Sian Summers-Rees, of the City of Sanctuary UK charity, described the case of a couple who applied for sponsorship of two 17-year-olds they met on social media and allegedly told them when they contacted the Home Office that the children were eligible for sponsorship. program. “Those who come to our attention are people who have good intentions, but obviously there is a huge concern that there are people who subscribe to it for awful reasons. “There are serious concerns about exploitation and trafficking,” he said. “We also know of cases where minors have arrived with people who are not their parents or carers.” Steve Crocker, of the Union of Child Services Directors, said Ukraine’s programs “were not designed with unaccompanied children in mind”. He said: “We continue to raise the need for any current and future arrangements for Ukrainian refugees to be child-centered and for local authorities to receive the necessary information, including the age of arrival, as soon as possible so that we can plan accordingly. , and so the needs of children can be met in the short and long term “. A government spokesman said the councils should use normal safeguards procedures if an unaccompanied child arrives from Ukraine. This map shows the extent of the Russian invasion of Ukraine (Press Association Pictures) Claire O’Meara, of Unicef, said: “While the program offers a valuable journey for those leaving the war, it is not designed to support unaccompanied children in need of additional care and support. “There is a delicate balance between transporting children to safety as quickly as possible, and this is done in a way that does not cause further harm or injury. “Unaccompanied children should therefore be transported to the United Kingdom only where it is in their best interests and their safety can be ensured.” A government spokesman said there were safeguards and would ensure that visa applications from unaccompanied minors are not approved by the Interior Ministry. The Independent has a proud campaign history for the rights of the most vulnerable and we first launched our “Welcome Refugees” campaign during the war in Syria in 2015. Now, as we renew our campaign and start this report on In the wake of the unfolding Ukrainian crisis, we call on the government to move faster and faster to secure aid. To learn more about our Refugee Campaign, click here. To sign the application click here. If you would like to donate, click here for our GoFundMe page.
