For over a week now we’ve all watched the harrowing footage from Ukraine. The destruction of lives as Russia continues its invasion of a free European country intensifies every day.
nd every day more and more families flee the ravages of war.
They have left everything they own behind. Homes, jobs, friends, schools, even husbands and sons who stay to face the bombs and bullets of the indiscriminate laying to waste of their country.
Millions have now fled across the borders. So far, Northern Ireland has remained largely silent on whether refugees can find a new home here, while other European countries, including the Republic of Ireland where Taoiseach Micheal Martin confirmed he was working to secure accommodation for over 20,000 Ukrainian refugees, have stepped up.
We hear well meaning words of support, but as yet there is little comfort to Ukrainian refugees of a safe place to come to in the UK. Northern Ireland may be nearly 2,000 miles away, but we should be ready to offer that help wherever we can. We have a reputation as a warm, welcoming people. The time to show that reputation hasn’t changed is now.
The NI Executive says it’s waiting for the UK Home Office to notify them of what schemes are available, but when people have never been so desperate the dithering does nothing other than show a lack of sympathy for the plight of millions.
There is no doubt in our own minds that we stand with the people of Ukraine, no matter how many miles there are between us. It’s in times of crisis that the true spirit of a nation comes to the fore and we can do more that shout our support from afar.
Rules on immigration are there for times of peace. This is not a time of peace in Europe.
There should be no reluctance, no hesitation, to stretch the hand of friendship across the miles and welcome as many as we can with open arms.
Today the Belfast Telegraph calls on our leaders to urgently clear away the red tape and offer those who need it sanctuary.
Let them in!
