Rahab accused of blocking evacuation of Ukrainian orphans supported by Hibs –

Dominique Raab was asked to stop “blocking” a group of orphans from Ukraine to the UK.

SNP leader in Westminster, Ian Blackford, raised the issue today with the Prime Minister’s questions, accusing Deputy Prime Minister Dominique Raab of delaying the case.

Raab, who stayed with Boris Johnson during his stay in Saudi Arabia, was asked to help raise 48 orphans in Scotland with the support of the charity Dnipro Kids.

The charity was founded in 2005 by a Hibbs supporter after the Edinburgh team played a game in a Ukrainian city and saw groups of orphans come to Easter Road Square to watch Hibbs for years. Charities have also traveled to Ukraine and offered to help the children many times over the past 17 years.

Since the start of the conflict in Ukraine last month, Dnipro Kids has managed to evacuate 48 orphans and their guardians to Poland, seeking temporary safe haven for them in Scotland.

Blackford argued that the only reason they couldn’t come was the Home Office documents.

“Last week I was trying to help Dnipro Children, a Scottish charity founded by Hibernian Football Club fans that evacuated 48 children from Ukrainian orphanages and tried to provide them with temporary shelter in Scotland. .

“The plane is ready and waiting in Poland on Friday to take these orphans to the UK, but this flight will remain empty without the necessary documents from the Home Office.”

The Polish government has said that Edinburgh City Council, the Scottish Government and the guardians of the children are trying to keep them safe.

He also added: “I have also worked closely with British government ministers to make this happen.

But a week later, the Interior Ministry is still the only obstacle and these children risk being stopped.

“So I beg the Deputy Prime Minister to get rid of these obstacles before it is too late. “Will he work with me and the Ukrainian authorities to get these 48 Ukrainian orphans on a plane this Friday?”

Raab stated that this is a “heartbreaking situation” and that he wants to do “all we can”, but the situation is difficult and he is involved in the Ukrainian government.

He said he had “protection problems” and added: “We want to do everything possible. Of course, in this case, there are some questions such as the wishes of the Ukrainian government about where to go and how to live with orphans, if the permit required by the Ukrainian and / or Polish government.

“It’s not really about bureaucracy. These are real conservation issues, but I definitely want to work with them for the benefit of these guys. ”

He went on to say that it was necessary to clarify whether the relatives of the children should be contacted in Ukraine and highlighted once again the issue of child protection as the reason for the problems in bringing children to the UK.

Subsequently, Interior Minister Kevin Foster said that permission to send the children from Poland was not granted by the Ukrainian government, which is ultimately the guardian of the orphans.

“It would be wrong to move children without the agreement of their homes and host governments, without trying to reunite them with their families,” he tweeted.

It would be wrong to transfer children without trying to reunite them with their families and without the consent of the host and host government. As my team has made clear, this has not been granted so far. https://t.co/ywshvDvLdJ

– Kevin Foster (@kevin_j_foster) March 16, 2022

Source: Herald Scotland

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