Muhammad Mussa
15 March 2022•Update: 15 March 2022
LONDON
Under a government scheme that aims to host people fleeing the Russian war on Ukraine, over 100,000 people in the UK offered shelter to Ukrainian refugees in a single day.
“Thanks to the generosity of the British public we’ve received over 100K expressions of interest from individuals and organisations so far in our Homes for Ukraine scheme,” the Department for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities said on Twitter Tuesday.
A website launched on Monday to register to host refugees crashed due to the large volume of people signing up. Some 10,000 people per hour were signing up to the program.
Speaking to BBC Radio 4,Foreign Office Minister James Cleverly said the website woes were ironically a welcome sign.
“I know this is a weird thing to say as a government minister – I’m glad the website crashed, because it is a reflection of that generosity of the British people,” Cleverly said.
Prime Minister Boris Johnson thanked the public for stepping up and aiding Ukrainian refugees searching for peace in the UK.
“It’s fantastic that over 100,000 people and organisations have recorded their interest in supporting Ukrainians fleeing the war through the Homes for Ukraine scheme. Thank you to everyone across the country who has stepped up to offer their help so far,” Johnson said on Twitter.
Prior to the launch of the “Homes for Ukraine” scheme, Ukrainians with family links in the UK were eligible for a visa that would enable them to work and receive benefits. The scheme, however, has broadened to include non-Ukrainian sponsors.
Under the program, sponsors will be able to host Ukrainian refugees in their homes for up to six months and get £350 ($457). The refugees will be allowed to live and work in the UK and receive unrestricted access to employment, healthcare, and benefits.
The scheme, however, applies only to Ukrainian refugees. Refugees and asylum seekers from Africa, Asia and the Middle East are not eligible.
