France’s interior minister on Saturday criticized the United Kingdom for its “lack of humanity” towards Ukrainian refugees stranded in Calais.
The UK government said on Sunday it could not “simply” open the UK’s doors after France criticized it for its “lack of humanity” towards Ukrainian refugees who have returned to Calais.
“If we just open the door, we will not benefit the people we are supposed to help, the real refugees, but I think we will also undermine popular support,” Justice Minister Dominic Raab told the BBC. “We must make sure that we act for the benefit of those who need our support,” he added.
250 forced refugees
French Interior Minister Gérald Darmanin on Saturday criticized the United Kingdom’s “totally inadequate response” and “lack of humanity” towards Ukrainian refugees who returned to the French port city of Calais in a letter to his British counterpart Priti Patel.
Since February 28, 517 Ukrainians who fled their country have tried to reunite with their families in England through the port of Calais or the Channel Tunnel at Coquell. But 250 of them without visas were returned by the British authorities, the prefecture of the department of Pas de Calais said in a press release on Sunday. On the night of Saturday to Sunday, 136 destitute “found refuge in the youth hostel of Calais.”
“This situation is unrealistic, because it forces these people, already exhausted from their long and terrible journey, to go to Paris or Brussels, to the embassies to carry out their visa procedures there,” the prefecture complained, again turning to the British authorities. “change your system so that consular solutions can be found locally.”
Darmanin urges to “quickly” solve the “problem”
For several days now, the situation of the displaced has been a source of friction between London and Paris, whose relations are already strained over the issue of illegal migrants.
On Thursday, the French government announced that the UK would set up a “kind of consulate” in Calais to issue visas directly to Ukrainians.
But “at the moment it’s ‘we’ll see, we’ll see’, it’s been four days,” complained Sunday Gérald Darmanin on French radio (Europe 1) and television (Cnews).
“I have a very good relationship with Ms. Patel,” he continued. “I’m sure she’s a good woman. She will solve this problem, but she must solve it quickly.”
UK reviews
The British government, also criticized in the United Kingdom for its lack of generosity towards refugees, eased visa conditions for Ukrainians with relatives in that country this week.
British and UK residents can bring their family members living in Ukraine, who can receive a three-year residence permit after a security check.
According to the UK Home Office, “about 50 visas” had been issued under the program as of Sunday morning, while more than 5,500 applications had been completed online and nearly 2,400 people had booked visa appointments. statement.
“We are doing our best to increase the capacity at each of the (visa) centers of the European Union,” said Minister Priti Patel.