North East Herts MP  Sir Oliver Heald has welcomed Government announcements to fast track Ukrainian family members to join their relatives in the UK. This means they will have immediate temporary protection before they are hopefully able to return home. However, he is also calling for the NHDC to see what accommodation could be made available quickly to help provide further help to those in need. Progressive Government announcements are being made of help for temporary refugees.

The Government has provided a Humanitarian Corridor with 1000 troops helping refugees and embassies in Lviv, Ukraine and other British Embassies close to Ukraine working round the clock to fast track family members, but to help others, temporary homes will be needed. Sir Oliver is one of the One Nation Conservative MPs to press the Prime Minister in an open letter for more help and further announcements are expected. Sir Oliver has also discussed the situation with the Prime Minister and other One Nation MPs.

With the Afghan refugees, NHDC initially offered no places and later offered 2 homes, although it is unclear if they have been used, but more may be needed to help Ukrainians. Sir Oliver has asked Council Leader Elizabeth Harburg-Dennis to start the search for places.

Commenting Sir Oliver said:

“ We are united in standing with brave Ukraine and I welcome NHDC lighting up in Ukrainian colours and hope it will be possible to fly a flag too. But I am concerned that we should find temporary places so that we can do more for the Ukrainian crisis. Families will take in their own and relatives are being fast tracked, but we may need to do more. We all hope refugees will soon be able to return home and that President Putin will withdraw from his invasion of a sovereign country.”