The British Red Cross reports on the serious risks facing Ukrainian refugees in the UK, including homelessness and exploitation. About 9,000 of the more than 200,000 families who have found refuge in the country may be left homeless due to conflicts with host families and difficulties finding housing.
This issue is covered by The Guardian based on a report by the British Red Cross. According to the document, government programs do help many families in need of asylum, but some Ukrainians face problems due to deficiencies in the protection system and the lack of proper training and support for host families.
It is particularly alarming that Ukrainian refugees face homelessness four times more often than the local population. From February to mid-June 2024, an average of 379 new migrants from Ukraine arrived every week. The report cites examples where some refugees were forced to sleep in unlivable conditions, such as on beaches, or where entire families slept in the same bed.
The Red Cross also notes that many refugees changed their place of residence more than six times in two years, and women who sought housing often found themselves at risk of sexual exploitation. The organization calls for increased support for Ukrainian refugees in Great Britain and to study the Ukrainian experience in order to create more effective and safe assistance mechanisms in the future.
In addition, there is growing concern about the impact on the mental health of refugees, especially children, who experience the instability and stress of frequent displacement and uncertainty about the future. The Red Cross also emphasizes the need to ensure access to health services, education and employment for Ukrainians so that they can better integrate into British society and find stability in their new lives.
It is important to note that the majority of host families in the UK show great solidarity and support for refugees, but the systemic issues require attention from the government to ensure a long-term solution.
