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Mar 3 • 4 tweets • 2 min read
Today I interviewed the UK Ambassador to Poland about why it is that the UK has adopted such s different approach and policy to Ukrainian refugees to virtually the rest of Europe. Tune into @BBCNewsnight at 2230 to see what she said.
To be clear the Ambassador doesn’t make UK government refugee policy. Nonetheless as HMG’s representative on the ground on the border I asked her why there is such a disparity between the UK govt policy’s on refugees and that of vast majority of the rest of Europe.
*policy
Priti Patel has travelled to Poland to say that those automatically eligible to come to the UK (ie those with family links) will be allowed to stay for 3 years rather than 1. Nonetheless the UK offering will remain among the least generous in Europe. bbc.com/news/uk-politi…

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More from @lewis_goodall

Lewis Goodall Profile picture
Mar 5
Lots of small, hopeful stories of solidarity from the border. Ran into a group of German paramedics from Frankfurt. They’ve travelled 11 hours in their ambulance bus to help, a vehicle they’ve had for 30 years. At the end of the day they’re handing over the bus to the Ukrainians. Image
They’re not even sure what’s happening to it or where it’s going: “i just know they need it far more than we do”, the paramedics’ team leader tells me.
This is their weekend, they’re back at work in Frankfurt at 6am Monday morning.
Read 9 tweets
Lewis Goodall Profile picture
Mar 3
More than anything else so many who arrive on the border are in a state of nervous and physical exhaustion. Either what they’ve fled from or the journey they’ve made has been deeply traumatic, or both.
Like virtually every woman with kids we meet here, Marianna told us her husband had just enlisted. She also told us that the kids are aware of the war. Last night before she went to sleep, Amelia (10) asked her Mum whether she and the family would be shot in the night.
The thing which really strikes you about the kids here is how still they are. Virtually none are crying. They’re stunned, frightened. By the time they’re across the border they’re cold and hungry, essentially spent.
Read 9 tweets
Lewis Goodall Profile picture
Mar 3
Poland already had provisions making it easier for Ukrainians to integrate than other arrivals. Today, the Polish Parliament is due to to vote on new proposals making it easier for Ukrainians to access the Polish labour market.
Compared to 2015 the response a lot of continental Europe, especially Europe’s east, is marked. Reasons?

To take 🇵🇱 as an example

1) countries like Poland had already received substantial migration from Ukraine since 2014. Has eased historic tensions.
2) Strong cultural/linguistic affinities.
3) Strong solidarity given current situation. Desire to see Ukraine succeed at any cost, as buffer between them and Russia.
Read 9 tweets
Lewis Goodall Profile picture
Mar 2
As well as speaking to scores of refugees over the past few days I’ve also been speaking to officials and (civilian and military) at the at the border about the humanitarian and logistical situation and who is coming over. This is what they’ve told me- 🧵
Who are the groups that are coming over? Am told this divides into several groups

1) Ukrainian women/kids- this is the vast majority of the arrivals. There are also elderly. Mums are often arriving with two, three, four kids (sometimes other people’s kids and more) and it’s…
…v hard for them. They’re arriving exhausted. They’ve been travelling for days. Some people (and kids) can no longer walk and have to be carried over. It’s subzero at night. We’re told of people lying on the ground unable to move. No water, no food.
Read 20 tweets
Lewis Goodall Profile picture
Mar 2
Freezing cold today and overnight in the Polish/Ukrainian border areas. Remember people are having to queue with their kids for up to four days, largely on foot, often having to abandon their cards. Polish border guards say that 450,000 have crossed into Poland, up from 250,000.
The numbers are astonishing. UNHCR estimates that the total numbers having fled Ukraine and crossed any of its borders are 650,000+. That’s in one week. As I said in my Newsnight piece last night it feels like Western Europe has little sense of enormity of the task.
At least not yet but if this continues it’s going to transform much across Europe.
Read 4 tweets
Lewis Goodall Profile picture
Mar 1
Buses of refugees arriving a few miles from the border crossing at Korczowa. Polish government has converted a massive industrial showroom into a temporary shelter, with food and facilities. Thousands are coming and leaving for rest of Europe every day. ImageImageImageImage
Firefighters helping the latest arrivals from the crossing to the refugee centre. The Polish Major who runs the centre tells us they’ve had 17 nationalities from four continents in the last few days. Some have arrived unable to walk, either through exhaustion or shelling.
Part of this place was a bathroom wholesaler. Now it’s been requisitioned by the Polish army. 1300 people left today. Another 1600 have arrived. If they don’t have transport or somewhere to go it’s being arranged for them. There are so many kids, often with just their Mum. ImageImageImage
Read 5 tweets

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