- Ed Davey calls for emergency airlift to provide a safe and fast system to get Ukrainian refugees to security in the UK
- He describes visit to Poland and Ukraine border and the lack of UK Government personnel on the ground in contrast to 19 other nations
- He praises the UK volunteers on the Polish border and the generosity of the British public who are offering their homes
Liberal Democrat Leader Ed Davey has called for an emergency airlift for Ukrainian refugees on the Polish border who want to reach the UK.
In a letter to the Foreign Secretary and Home Secretary, Ed Davey has suggested the UK Government must now provide free flights to the UK, with coaches to the nearest Polish airports from key border crossing points and welcoming reception centres for the refugees on arrival at the UK.
It comes following the Liberal Democrat Leader’s visit to the Polish border this week to meet with Ukrainian refugees and the charities supporting them. In contrast to the swift action of the British public to offer shelter and countless volunteers from the UK to help with the humanitarian crisis, Ed Davey was appalled by the absence of any UK Government personnel to provide swift and safe passage to those fleeing to the UK.
Leader of the Liberal Democrats Ed Davey MP said: “Boris Johnson’s reckless dismissal of security warnings about one wealthy Russian contrasts with his heartlessly inadequate response to countless Ukrainian women and children fleeing Putin’s bombs. This shames him and his Government.
“Emergency airlifts are now the best guarantee for these refugees to get to the UK safely and swiftly, to the kindness and compassion of the British public waiting for them.
“It was shocking to see so many other nations united and already helping refugees at a humanitarian aid centre near the Ukrainian-Polish border, whilst the UK Government had no-one.
“The queues of refugees are exhausted and traumatised. Surely these families have been through enough. It’s urgent that people are now airlifted to safety and help so they can start rebuilding their lives.”
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