‘We need to do more, we need to waive the need for a visa for people escaping war.’

Rush Green and Crowlands prospective Labour Councillor Angelina Leatherbarrow today writes in the Havering Daily.

I sat and spoke with a friend from Ukraine yesterday. She is a local business owner, a wonderful person who is contributing to our local community, raising her family here. 

Many of her family members are still in Ukraine. Her mother and sister are stuck, going into bomb shelters at night to sleep and hope that their refuge is not destroyed overnight. 

My friend has a WhatsApp thread on her phone, which is being used by people back in Ukraine to receive air raid warnings, it goes off through the night, and she texts her mother to see if she is ok. The wait for a reply is unimaginable. 

She is safe here, but she is living through and experiencing the war in Ukraine every day and night. I can not comprehend the emotional turmoil of knowing that you are so far away from the people that you love when they are in danger. The anger at what’s happening, fear, even guilt for not being there. But that is the experience for thousands of Ukrainians in the UK today. 

She spoke of the pride she has in her family, friends, and community back in Ukraine, she isn’t surprised by the incredible bravery and resilience being shown by her country men and women. The images that we have seen on the news of civilians protecting their streets, of people rushing to support others, taking them in to their homes, sharing food, sharing clothes and medicine. She spoke of their passion for their Ukrainian identity, their history, their language and their democracy and they will not relinquish them lightly. 

I am so in awe of this woman amazing woman. I can only hope that if I am ever in her shoes, I could face the challenges of each day with the strength and dignity that she is showing. 

Here in the UK we need to do more, we need to waive the need for a visa for people escaping war. 

My friend’s mum wouldn’t be eligible to gain a visa under the current system. That is wrong, she should be able to join her daughter and grandchildren, no question. It’s not just about getting to the first safe space. It’s about dignity and humanity, any of us would expect to be able to get to our loved ones in this situation.

The problem is even if the government does follow the lead of the rest of Europe and waive visas, the physical challenge of getting out of Ukraine may to insurmountable for many, especially the very old, the very young and vulnerable. Its snowing in Ukraine today, imagine walking for days potentially in snow, carrying whatever possessions you can manage. For many, the ability to find a safe route to escape to their loved ones who are desperate to be reunited may already be lost. 

We can all write to our MP’s and demand that they support the growing calls for the UK to follow the lead of the EU and open our doors to people fleeing war and help them make the final leg of their journey and get to their families in the UK. That is a small thing that we can do that could make a huge difference to many lives.

We can also support the humanitarian response by donating to the Red Cross

https://donate.redcross.org.uk/appeal/ukraine-crisis-appeal