Will you open your door and host Ukrainian refugees- mothers, grand-mothers and their children?

Callistemon21

volver

Why does it matter how many refugees the US have taken?

If they're doing something badly does that let us off the hook?

No of course not.
It matters because they apparently criticised the UK but have a far worse record themselves.
They should put their own house in order then they may make a criticism.

It's not a great tactic, is it, all criticising each other.

Apparently?

When was that then?

I have had a pleasingly prompt reply from my MP, and like you Callistemon, it contained a lot of party platitudes. However, he did make valid points about security issues and pointed out that all parties recognise the need for visas. I have replied that I appreciate this necessity, but surely he could see how a small office in the back street of Calais, with 3 keen but uninstructed staff, a box of crisps and a box of kitkats was a humiliating example of Great British administration, let alone welcome.

volver

Why does it matter how many refugees the US have taken?

If they're doing something badly does that let us off the hook?

No of course not.
It matters because they apparently criticised the UK but have a far worse record themselves.
They should put their own house in order then they may make a criticism.

It's not a great tactic, is it, all criticising each other.

Why does it matter how many refugees the US have taken?

If they're doing something badly does that let us off the hook?

I hate being a pariah state

The UK Government is being difficult and using delaying tactics and I think many of us have written to our MPs expressing our dismay at the rules and regulations which are being applied to the refugees wanting to come here.
Criticism of the Government is one thing and justified.

But calling the UK a pariah state is putting the UK on a par with Russia - wrong and offensive on many levels.

How may refugees has the USA taken so far? Ukrainian refugees have flown to Mexico and difficulties have been put in their way at the border with the USA, citing Title 42 to deny them entry, when they attempted to cross to join relatives in the USA.

I have read that No 10 is putting pressure on Patel to limit the refugees.

They clearly still think that their voters are not willing to give refuge to those fleeing atrocity.

I hope the U.K. voter shows that we are better than that.

Both France and USA press have criticised the U.K. response to refugees and sanctions.

I hate being a pariah state.

I walked past a nursing home which is no longer in use. When I saw it I thought that it would be a useful place to create a temporary refuge. Perhaps empty hotel buildings could be repurposed too. I’m sure many of us be keen to help with refurbishing and with providing essentials and personal support. If I were arriving in a new country I would welcome the sanctuary of my own space as well as support from the community.

GillT57

Doodledog

That was on the BBC TV News, Iam. His teenage daughter was too distressed to speak.

It's just disgraceful.

My MP has just received an email from me about this disgraceful situation, my second one today. Why is Patel allowed to stand up and tell lies?

My MP replied with platitudes which were meaningless. When I emailed again he just ignored me.

Our town has long established Ukrainian community, including an active Ukrainian centre. We are a city of refuge for refugees so hopefully plans are in hand to support people. That’s if they ever navigate the ludicrous beurocracy

Woman’s Hour today had an interview with a woman who has taken in an Afghan family. What she said was very interesting, making it clear that finding out what sort of support the family might need (financial, emotional etc.) before they arrived was quite important. The situation though was perhaps a bit different because they would be staying with her permanently and not returning to their country. Worth a listen anyway.

Every single country in Europe has been more generous and more welcoming to Ukrainian refugees than the UK.

Boris Johnson likes superlatives. We always have to be "world beating"

I don't know about you, but I am not proud of the UK being the least hospitable country in Europe - or maybe the least hospitable country in the world.

In my limited experience of working in a team rehousing the Afghan and Syrian refugees who don’t already have family in the UK, one of the things that’s very important to them is to retain contact with people from their own community so that they feel they belong, and can speak in their own language to people who already know them and have experiences in common. If they can’t walk to meet their contacts, being able to travel to a church or community facility specifically for them is ideal. It’s laudable that people are offering to house them, but I think to avoid them being even more traumatised when they arrive in the UK those requirements do need to be met if at all possible.

Germanshepherdsmum

I didn’t drive her off Gill though I readily admit to being one of a number of people who didn’t like the attitude she displayed to her former homeland. Anyway don’t let’s start that again.

Agreed. Let's not. We are all better than that

Iam64

GrannyGravy13, the OP mentioned she lives in a very large old house, where she could accommodate refugees
Kali2 seems to have left the building
I

If she says she plans to do so she will. She is far more proactive than I am.

I didn’t drive her off Gill though I readily admit to being one of a number of people who didn’t like the attitude she displayed to her former homeland. Anyway don’t let’s start that again.

I hope that our MP's and/or people with more than one home will lead by example and open their doors (but I doubt it) Once again ordinary people are being asked to do extraordinary things at a time of great price rises. I agree with others in not seeing how it will work in a financial/practical way.

GillT57 in no way was my post ^ganging up on the OP*. I was curious as to whether they had opened their door, and if so how it was going.

I was prompted to do so by another thread on here regarding the cost and maybe pitfalls of doing so.

Same people ganging up on the OP, give it a rest. For all we know, Kali2 may be doing something, she is after all, as most of you are so happy to point out, living in a different country, and therefore maybe they have things better organised? GSM driving someone off a forum is nothing to be proud of. Given what this thread is about, ie kindness in adversity, these comments are unkind to say the least

Yes, things didn’t go well and she departed.

GrannyGravy13, the OP mentioned she lives in a very large old house, where she could accommodate refugees
Kali2 seems to have left the building
I

No doubt we will hear if so!

I wonder if the OP has given refuge to any of these desperate souls?

(Apologies if they have and I have missed the post)

Throwing the doors open isn’t likely to be the best option. Our town, like many others is a city of sanctuary for refugees. The council, designated staff from relevant agencies including Housing will have a plan in place for refugees. The state has a role here. Volunteers offer a great deal of practical and emotional support

Maizie, what if it’s horrendously stressful, you have traumatised people who don’t speak English and have different customs? Perhaps small children who are having nightmares, wetting the bed etc and you’re not used to having children around all the time? That’s most likely the reality of taking in a family. After a while you are exhausted by it all and there are financial problems caused by the additional expense (not just food but fuel bills). Not a happy state of affairs. If on top of all that you don’t know when you will get your space back and be able to have your family to stay, move house if that’s on your agenda, it needs a lot of thinking about before throwing the doors open.

It is not an easy offer to make, that much is clear. I think we all know that, but many will be willing to do it nevertheless, because any problems that we might encounter are as nothing compared to being bombed out of your home.

I suspect that, in spite of having two spare bedrooms and a spare bathroom, I might not be first choice because I live in the middle of nowhere. I will wait and see what scheme is proposed.