Ukraine Humanitarian Crisis Discussion

[pip08456]

Why not just issue then with 3 month visitor visas and sort out the detail later? Let's give them the shelter and safe haven they deserve.

[1andrew1]

Misleading the house is quite a strong accusation.

As I said in the other thread, i wonder if Zelenskyy will raise visas when he addresses the British Parliament today?

[pip08456]

Originally Posted by 1andrew1

Misleading the house is quite a strong accusation.

As I said in the other thread, i wonder if Zelenskyy will raise visas when he addresses the British Parliament today?

There is an office in a previously unused building in Calais staffed by 5 men who cannot issue visas but show how an online application can be made if you have a mobile phone, there is also one being opened in Lille perhaps because Eurostar have offered free travel to Ukrainian refugees.

Still not enough though IMHO.

Odessa National Opera WW2 and today.



and inside with a reference to London during the blitz.

[1andrew1]

Originally Posted by pip08456

There is an office in a previously unused building in Calais staffed by 5 men who cannot issue visas but show how an online application can be made if you have a mobile phone, there is also one being opened in Lille perhaps because Eurostar have offered free travel to Ukrainian refugees.

Still not enough though IMHO.

Interesting, thank you.
Application forms on mobile phones aren't usually a lot of fun.

[pip08456]

Originally Posted by 1andrew1

Interesting, thank you.
Application forms on mobile phones aren't usually a lot of fun.

Which is why I think not enough is being done. Why not just rubber stamp anyone with a Ukrainian passport with a visitor visa and sort out the detail later?

There’s a Games Bundle with the money going to support Ukraine.

https://itch.io/b/1316/bundle-for-ukraine

The people of Ukraine are under attack. As game developers we want to create new worlds, not to destroy the one we have. That's why we've banded together to present this charity bundle to help Ukrainians survive this ordeal and thrive after the war ends. This cause has resonated with creators around the globe, to the extent that our bundle contains almost 1,000 games, tabletop RPGs, books, etc.

Over 700 creators have joined in support to donate their work. All proceeds from this bundle will be split between the following charities:

International Medical Corps provides medical assistance in the region. They have very low fundraising overhead (1% of income), with 89% of donations going to medical aid and 10% to administration.
Voices of Children, a Ukrainian organization that helps children cope with the horrors of war, PTSD, readjusting to school, and getting back to being kids. They have also been doing a lot of grassroots impromptu work during the war, such as helping set up shelters. Our hope is that this war will be over soon, and they can begin the work of healing these kids' hearts.
Of these nearly 1,000 products, more than 600 have never been in a major bundle before. Several prominent developers and publishers signed up to itch.io specifically to be in this bundle. And there's something for everyone - we have almost 600 digital video games, over 300 analog tabletop RPGs, and dozens of asset packs, books, zines, and comics, soundtracks/music, and a host of other products. Also unique to this bundle, we only allowed paid products.

We kept the minimum low, but we highly urge you to pay above the minimum if you can afford to do so. All proceeds will be split between the charities 50/50.

[RichardCoulter]

Originally Posted by Hugh

There’s a Games Bundle with the money going to support Ukraine.

https://itch.io/b/1316/bundle-for-ukraine

So good to see all walks of life showing their support in so many different ways.

Will the fact payment is in dollars cause any issues for those in the UK?

[ianch99]

Originally Posted by Mick

As a conservative. I’m deeply embarrassed by this governments approach to Ukrainian refugees. There should be a decisive instruction and criteria.

Our side has been banging on about illegal migrants not coming from war torn countries like France. But these Ukrainian migrants are desperate and are coming from War torn countries.

Thank you Mick for calling this out. There are things that transcend tribal politics and this is one of them. It is now you really see who stands up and is counted ..

Count me in then. I’m absolutely fizzing about stories of people going to Calais (where a UK visa centre is now supposed to be operating) only to be told they can get an appointment in Paris this time next week. There is clearly a massive cultural failing within the Home Office that is being allowed to run riot for a complete dearth of leadership from the very top. It’s an absolute disgrace. It’s also completely unnecessary - when Idi Amin ran riot in Nigeria we brought thousands of refugees straight to London and processed their paperwork afterwards. Precisely the same thing could be done now.

I really have no idea what is driving the Conservative Party any more. There is nothing in the legitimate political aim of restoring sovereign control over our borders that necessitates this indifferent-to-the-point-of-callous approach to the biggest refugee crisis of our generation.

Originally Posted by RichardCoulter

So good to see all walks of life showing their support in so many different ways.

Will the fact payment is in dollars cause any issues for those in the UK?

Shouldn't think so - one can pay by card or PayPal, and it will be converted to Sterling on your bill.

[1andrew1]

Originally Posted by Chris

Count me in then. I’m absolutely fizzing about stories of people going to Calais (where a UK visa centre is now supposed to be operating) only to be told they can get an appointment in Paris this time next week. There is clearly a massive cultural failing within the Home Office that is being allowed to run riot for a complete dearth of leadership from the very top. It’s an absolute disgrace. It’s also completely unnecessary - when Idi Amin ran riot in Nigeria we brought thousands of refugees straight to London and processed their paperwork afterwards.

I really have no idea what is driving the Conservative Party any more. There is nothing in the legitimate political aim of restoring sovereign control over our borders that necessitates our lackadaisical approach to the biggest refugee crisis of our generation.

We've been really good with Hong Kongers which shows we can devise practical solutions when we need to.

We're making an utter pig's ear of Ukranian visas and putting traumatised people through another stressful ordeal.

It's a stain on the country's reputation.

We have the jobs - over 600k full-time vacancies on Indeed.co.uk, the space (1m EU nationals left during lockdown) and the wealth (5th/6th wealthiest country) so there's no excuse for us not to take our fair share of refugees.

I hope Patel has a Road to Damascus moment, as she seems unsackable.

Originally Posted by 1andrew1

We've been really good with Hong Kongers which shows we can devise practical solutions when we need to.

We're making an utter pig's ear of Ukranian visas and putting traumatised people through another stressful ordeal.

It's a stain on the country's reputation.

We have the jobs - over 600k full-time vacancies on Indeed.co.uk, the space (1m EU nationals left during lockdown) and the wealth (5th/6th wealthiest country) so there's no excuse for us not to take our fair share of refugees.

I hope Patel has a Road to Damascus moment, as she seems unsackable.

I nearly pointed out that if they couldn’t bring themselves to act in a humanitarian capacity they might at least see an opportunity to address the national labour shortage … but I didn’t want to seem mercenary. It’s really hard to know what to think about all this.

[daveeb]

Originally Posted by pip08456

Which is why I think not enough is being done. Why not just rubber stamp anyone with a Ukrainian passport with a visitor visa and sort out the detail later?

Indeed, spot on

[1andrew1]

Originally Posted by Chris

I nearly pointed out that if they couldn’t bring themselves to act in a humanitarian capacity they might at least see an opportunity to address the national labour shortage … but I didn’t want to seem mercenary. It’s really hard to know what to think about all this.

It seems an unpleasant blend of ideology, underfunding and incompetence.

[TheDaddy]

Originally Posted by Chris

I nearly pointed out that if they couldn’t bring themselves to act in a humanitarian capacity they might at least see an opportunity to address the national labour shortage … but I didn’t want to seem mercenary. It’s really hard to know what to think about all this.

I may have dreamt this but didn't some tory berk say they could get fruit picking visas the other day