The United Kingdom said on Monday it had taken in 21 Ukrainian children with cancer to allow them to continue their treatment there, interrupted by the Russian invasion of Ukraine, while the government invites the British to host Ukrainian refugees at home.
The children and their immediate families arrived from Poland on Sunday evening and will be sent to various British public health service (NHS) hospitals in England for treatment, free of charge.
On Sunday, “we received 21 very sick Ukrainian children from cancer. They are all innocent children (who were) forced from their homes because of the Russian invasion,” Health Minister Sajid Javid told Sky News on Monday.
They received a six-month visa but will be able to stay “as long as necessary”, he added.
The move comes as the UK, criticized for its slowness and reluctance to take in Ukrainians after the Russian invasion, rolls out a new scheme on Monday allowing Britons to house refugees fleeing war at home.
This programme, called “Homes for Ukraine”, will make it possible to accommodate “tens of thousands” of people who will have access to the labor market, social security and education, even without family ties with the United Kingdom, British Housing Minister Michael Gove announced on Sunday.
People who decide to host Ukrainian refugees in their homes will receive 350 pounds (418 euros) per month and must commit to hosting these refugees for at least six months.
To do this, the British must get in touch with Ukrainians, through social networks or associations, and register on a platform which will be operational on Monday.
Ukrainians wishing to travel to the UK will still need a visa, but the procedure for obtaining one has been simplified.
According to the government, some 3,000 visas for the United Kingdom have been granted to Ukrainians, but for the leader of the Labor opposition Keir Starmer, it does not do enough compared to its European neighbors.