Ukraine war: Four advice centres to open for Ukrainian refugees
- Published
Millions of Ukrainians have fled the Russian invasion
Advice centres for Ukrainian refugees in Northern Ireland will open next week, Stormont officials have said.
The four "Ukraine Assistance Centres" will be in Belfast, Newry, Craigavon and Ballymena.
They will open in stages and operate on a weekly basis, with the first centre starting work in Belfast on Monday.
However, questions have been asked about why they have not open sooner, with an estimated 300 Ukrainians already in Northern Ireland.
On Friday afternoon, Stormont's Executive Office confirmed the locations of each centre and their operating times for next week.
In Belfast, the centre will be based in the Cecil Ward Building, 4-10 Linenhall Street, and will be open from 09:30 BST to 16:00 BST on Monday 11 April and Friday 15 April
In Newry, the centre will be based in Newry Leisure Centre, 60 Cecil Street, and will be open from 09:30 BST to 16:00 BST on Tuesday 12 April
In Craigavon, the centre will be based in Brownlow Community Hub, 7 Brownlow Road, and will be open from 09:30 BST to 16:00 BST on Wednesday 13 April
In Ballymena, the centre will be based in The Braid, 1-29 Bridge Street, and will be open from 09:30 BST to 16:00 BST on Thursday 14 April
The Executive Office said assistance centres will offer refugees advice on accessing public services including health, education, jobs, benefits and housing.
They will also assist people with immigration issues.
People attending the centres have been advised that they will need to bring identification and "proof of the scheme under which they are registered".
Millions of people have been forced to flee Ukraine after Russia invaded in February.
More than 7,000 people in Northern Ireland expressed an interest in the UK's Homes for Ukraine scheme.
Refugees have started arriving, including a 31-year-old woman who completed a journey from Kyiv to south Belfast on Thursday.
Her host, Alison Clarke, said she was surprised the advice centres had not yet opened.
"It's just words so far, and until they actually show up behind a desk somewhere and say 'here is your national insurance number, welcome to Northern Ireland', it's all just words."
Alison Clarke has taken in a Ukrainian refugee
Ms Clarke added that the young Ukrainian woman living with her was keen to start working.
"We just need to legitimise her arrival in Northern Ireland and give her access to the promised services that gives her on paper the right to work, the right to see a doctor… the stuff that everybody else here takes completely for granted and has been promised to these people."
Amnesty International is monitoring the plight of Ukrainian refugees.
Patrick Corrigan, Amnesty's programme director in Northern Ireland, said: "I know because I've received assurances from the head of the civil service that they are working with other statutory and non-statutory agencies, charities and the like here, to put in place arrangements, but we need to do it faster and better.
"We need to be ready for these people."
Welcome desks have been placed at Northern Ireland airports but many of the arrivals have come through Dublin.
Belfast City Council said it was working with the Executive Office at Stormont to provide services.
A council spokesperson said: "Belfast City Council is fully engaged with the Executive Office (TEO) and other government departments to support the arrival of Ukrainian refugees to the city."
Most of the Ukrainians have come to Northern Ireland since the Russian invasion.
Separately, 90 visas have been issued to refugees who say they intend to come to Northern Ireland under the Homes for Ukraine scheme.
- Published18 March 2022
- Published1 April 2022
