Dnipro orphans get permission to travel to Scotland

A group of children evacuated from Ukraine by a Scottish charity have been granted permission to travel to the UK.

Interior Minister Priti Patel said Ukrainian authorities had confirmed that the Dnipro orphans could continue their journey to Scotland.

Charity Dnipro Kids, established by fans of the Hibernian Football Club, has already evacuated 48 children from orphanages in Ukraine to Poland.

They are expected to arrive in Scotland on Monday.

Steven Carr, president of Dnipro Kids, said the children would be “welcomed with open arms”.

Ms Patel said it was “deeply worrying” that the children had been caught up in Putin’s “brutal invasion of Ukraine” and that the UK government was working with Poland to ensure their “quick arrival” in the UK. United.

“I am extremely grateful to the Ukrainian authorities, who have now confirmed to me that children can come here,” she said.

SNP MP Ian Blackford has been working with the charity to provide the boys, who are between the ages of six and 17, with temporary sanctuary in Scotland.

“While this process has been more difficult than it needed to be, all that matters now is that these children will be in a safe place and I am more than pleased,” he said.

“I want to pay tribute to everyone who has worked hard to make this happen, including the Scottish charity Dnipro Kids, the Ukrainian and Polish authorities, the Scottish Government, Edinburgh City Council and all those who have helped solve problems at the Ministry. inland. .”

He added: “It is essential that the UK government learn lessons and remove unnecessary barriers and delays to support displaced children and families.”

Speaking from Poland, Carr said Dnipro Kids, which was founded in 2005, “did everything to keep them safe.”

“Children come to Scotland and they’re going to have a fantastic time here and they’re going to absolutely love it. But at the end of the day, this is just a safe haven for them until it’s safe to go home,” he told BBC Scotland.

“They are not here to stay because they have their own homes, they have their friends, their schoolmates, all of that in Ukraine.

“Ultimately they will go back there, which will be a very sad occasion, but they are only here as a safe haven and we are going to make their time here as enjoyable as possible.”

He said that the Scottish public had been “absolutely phenomenal” in supporting them.

Scottish Secretary Alister Jack said: “I am very grateful to the Hibs fans’ charity Dnipro Kids and everyone else involved in getting children out of Ukraine safely.”

“Scotland has a proud history of supporting refugees, and I’m sure these young people will be incredibly welcome when they get here.”

Up to 3,000 people fleeing the conflict will be given immediate temporary accommodation in Scotland, and could start arriving by the weekend if the plan is agreed.

The Scottish Government has also announced that a further £15m of funding will be made available to help refugees, including £11m for local councils and £2.5m for temporary accommodation.