The ministry also released updated information on the number of people who have been issued visas to come and stay with British relatives. The “Family of Ukraine” program, which has been operating since early March, has issued 22,800 visas. More than 3.9 million refugees have fled Ukraine, with the vast majority settling in Poland, according to the UN High Commissioner for Refugees. An estimated 6.5 million people have been displaced within Ukraine. Dozens of people hoping to bring refugees to the UK under the Homes for Ukraine program have contacted the Guardian to express their frustration over the slowness of the visa system. More than 150,000 people registered to show interest in hosting refugees. Applicants have complained that there is no way to track applications, leaving refugees unsure whether they will start traveling to the UK or stay in Ukraine. Some people have complained that the online form is poorly designed, has malfunctions and is difficult to complete if English is not your first language. Others have struggled with the amount of documents required, questioning whether it is realistic for people leaving war zones to have bank copies or other proof of residence in Ukraine. Some people reported that some family members received visas while others did not, leaving them with difficult decisions about whether to separate the families as they sought security. Many prospective hosts have contacted the Guardian, describing their fears for the safety of refugees they hope to host, who often wait for visas to be accommodated in unsuitable accommodation. Leading refugee charities this week called on the government to abolish visas for Ukrainian refugees as a short-term measure to bring the UK into line with EU measures. The Refugee Council, the British Red Cross, Save The Children and Oxfam said the visa system “caused great distress to the already injured Ukrainians”. “Those wishing to come to the UK must browse through a complex web of bureaucratic documents to obtain a visa, leaving them with long delays without any information on the status of their application,” the charity wrote. Lord Harrington, the minister for refugees, said changes had been made to the implementation plan to try to rationalize it, but agreed that further improvements were needed. “We are beginning to see progress due to the changes made by the Ministry of Interior to streamline the visa process and the allocation of additional resources to the system. “However, we need to do more and make further improvements to bring people to the UK as quickly as possible.” “I look forward to welcoming more families and making sure they have the support they need when they arrive.”
