● Greens issue warning that lack of government leadership and support is preventing councils from helping refugees
● Carlisle City Councillor Helen Davison: “Councils and their constituents all over the country are ready to step up for Ukrainian refugees, just like they were for Afghan refugees. But the biggest barrier is this Conservative government”
Carlisle Green Party has called on the government to provide our local councils and communities with the support and coordination necessary to be able to provide Ukrainian refugees with proper assistance.
The Green Party warns that local councils and their constituents, who want to help those fleeing Russia’s war in Ukraine, are being prevented from doing so by the Government’s failure to adequately provide support services and clear advice and help.
The Government is offering to take in 200,000 people fleeing Ukraine [1], but the Greens warn that there could be a repeat of the catastrophic handling of the Afghan refugee crisis last year. [2]
The Greens have repeatedly warned over the last year that refugees and asylum seekers, including children, are being accommodated in often overcrowded and unsuitable hotels due to the lack of appropriate housing. [3] They have also warned that the lack of funding for fostering, and children’s services is leaving children without the support they need to recover from trauma.
Carlisle Greens state that the chaos that accompanies the Homes for Ukraine project is a direct result of the Hostile Environment policy put into place by this government which has caused so many problems. Now the goodwill of the British public and of its statutory and non-statutory sectors working to help refugees and asylum seekers is being sorely tested by the ineffectiveness, confusion and heartlessness shown by the present governments lack of planning and support.
The Green Party is calling on the Government to provide the help that is needed for local councils to resettle refugees in appropriate accommodation where they can restart their lives with help from local communities.
Green Party City Councillor Helen Davison: “Councils and their constituents all over the country are ready to step up for Ukrainian refugees, just like they were for Afghan refugees. But the biggest barrier is this Conservative government”
“We need to match the generosity of our European neighbours by waiving visa requirements for refugees fleeing war and we need money unlocked to provide decent accommodation and adequately fund support services. Councils with support can provide housing by repurposing empty homes, partnering with private landlords and building affordable new homes.”
Tom Adams, Green Party candidate for Brampton added: “Local communities in Carlisle, Brampton and elsewhere are rallying together to play their part in helping Ukrainian refugees. For example, the Brampton Area Action Group co-ordinated a response to supply vital food and medical supplies delivered directly to their point of need. Central government needs to match these local responses and rapidly catch up in terms of its support and funding for refugee resettlement”.
Gavin Hawkton, Carlisle Green Party Chair said:
“The Conservative government does not understand the urgency of the situation and the scale that is needed to save lives and keep people protected.
“We need a comprehensive system for the resettlement of refugees, without this those seeking asylum will continue to wait in limbo and sometimes be forced to live in unacceptable conditions.
“The goodwill of the British public is clear, yet those who want to help are being prevented by a confused and ineffective government who have failed to provide the scale of planning and support that is needed.
ENDS
Notes
1
https://uk.news.yahoo.com/uk-could-over-200-000-130221772.html
2
3