3,100 Ukrainians welcomed to Northern Ireland since war started

More than 3,000 Ukrainians have been welcomed to Northern Ireland since Russia’s war on their homeland started, First Minister Michelle O’Neill has said.

The Executive Office has been running a sponsorship scheme in Northern Ireland where Ukrainians are hosted by local families following the start of the war in 2022.

“We have had over 3,100 arrivals here so far, and more than £620,000 is being paid in immediate cash support just to help people get established,” she told MLAs.

“We have co-ordinated work across departments to support arrivals and facilitate payments of over £3 million to more than 900 individual homes – those people that have actually opened their doors to help and be Ukrainians’ sponsors.”

Ms O’Neill also welcomed a recent announcement by the Home Office of an extension to visas offered.

“We’re also very mindful that some of our first arrivals under the Homes for Ukraine sponsorship scheme will be entering the final years of current visa and that was a worrying moment for people,” she said.

“So therefore we welcome announcement made by Home Office back on the 19th of February that has confirmed the opportunity to apply for an extended Homes for Ukraine visa for a further 18 months for those that wish to remain.

“We’re going to continue to engage with the Home Office in London and the Department of Levelling Up on more work to support Ukrainian arrivals.”