Jersey looking at Ukrainian refugee situation

Image source, Reuters

Image caption, Work is to be carried out so refugees can "settle properly into island life"
At a glance
  • Moves to integrate a greater number of refugees in Jersey are to be looked at after the invasion of Ukraine and the UK changing its immigration policy
  • Ukrainian refugees have already arrived in Jersey and been reunited with local families
  • Work needed if those who reach Jersey are there "for years to come" to help them "settle properly into island life", the chief minister says

Officials in Jersey are looking at ways of integrating a greater number of refugees as a result of the invasion of Ukraine by Russia, the island's chief minister has said.

John Le Fondr茅聽said the move was in response to the UK鈥檚 announced changes to its immigration policy.

The UK government has launched a Homes for Ukraine scheme, which will let people in the UK host refugees in their homes.

Mr Le Fondr茅聽said the Jersey government was "determining the most appropriate future policy for the island".

He said some Ukrainian refugees had already arrived via the Family Visa Scheme and had been "successfully reunited with families here in the island".

Mr Le Fondr茅 added the current priority was to "make sure that those refugees arriving to reunite with families are welcomed and have access to everything they need".

The UK changes are to cover refugees who do not have family ties there.

The UK government said tens of thousands of people fleeing the war in Ukraine could come to the UK through that route.

Senator Le Fondr茅聽said if the refugees were in Jersey for years to come "proper independent housing, schooling and employment needs to be found so they can settle properly into island life".

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