By Giulia Mura
After the Russian army invaded Ukraine on the morning of February 24, citizens’ lives changed forever. It was initially said that the attack was aimed only at military bases but many other typed of building were also destroyed, including schools, hospitals and private homes.
Some people managed to emigrate shortly before the clashes and bombs also reached their cities, while others were not so lucky.
Men aged between 18 and 60 who are capable of fighting had to remain in Ukraine to defend their homeland, while women, children and the elderly fled to either safe parts of the country, or neighbouring countries.
But even those who were finally safe from the physical aspects of the war may actually have to fight another one: a personal, mental and cultural one.
Bureaucratic difficulties
Integration into a new society can be difficult even, if the host nation’s attitude is very positive and hospitable. “Resettlement to a third country is seen as one of the promising durable solutions for protracted refugees,” said the UNHCR, or United Nations High Commission on Refugees.
“This option is also the most popular among refugees since it gives them an opportunity to start a new life with the right to work and the opportunity to eventually gain citizenship as they wait for peace to return to their country of origin.
“However, for most of them, integrating into the new system abroad has unfortunately proven to be as difficult as staying in the refugee camps.”
In the United Kingdom, despite the bureaucratic difficulties linked to gaining visas for Ukrainian refugees, the government is working to ensure that people can be accommodated for as long as necessary.
The Homes for Ukraine scheme has seen more than 200,000 UK residents offering their homes to Ukrainians, and 25,000 people have applied for visas. It offers refugees from that country a place to live along with benefits and the right to work for up to three years.
But critics of the scheme say that it offered false hope, and that nearly a fortnight after it opened few people have received visas.
“The government made a fanfare of its Homes for Ukraine community sponsorship programme. Michael Gove told parliament on 14 March that there was no limit on the numbers coming in. Yet none of the families we are supporting have yet got a visa to travel under the community sponsorship scheme and are still waiting,” the head of Positive Action in Housing, Robina Qureshi, told the Guardian.
Fluent English speakers find it easier
There are also associations that help in the search for sponsors and hospitality. Those who speak fluent English are finding it easier to adapt.
Anastasiia Avanesova, 19, is originally from Kyiv and studies in London. ”The difficult thing could be the emotional state of the refugee, everywhere and not just in the UK. War is cruel and devastating and psychological help would save the mental states of many refugees,” she said.
”For integration, language learning would be very beneficial if provided by the host. I think adaptation is easier for young people and children but Ukrainians are educated and modern people in general. Ukrainians are the strongest people I know and should be treated as such.”
London has many cultural centres that can help new emigrants. The London Ukrainian Centre and the Ukrainian Institute London, both near Holland Park (West London) host events and language courses.
It is very important to do everything possible to empathize with others to really understand what they have been through, only in this way can we help.
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