Ukraine: Why the UK is facing criticism over its help

More than 1.7 million people have fled Ukraine after the country was invaded by Russia last month, according to the United Nations (UN).

The European Union (EU) says up to four million people may try to leave and that it will welcome refugees with "open arms".

The term refugee refers to people who have been forced to flee from their homes in order to keep safe from war, persecution or natural disaster.

The UK has also promised to give hundreds of thousands of people shelter and support, but there's also been confusion and criticism about what the UK government is actually offering and who would qualify.

What help has the UK promised?

People fleeing Ukraine face long waits at border checkpoints

UK Prime Minister Boris Johnson had already said that the UK could take in 200,000 Ukrainian refugees and that businesses will also be able to sponsor a Ukrainian to come to the country for a year.

The UK has gradually widened the number of people it can offer places to in the last few days - allowing three-year stays for parents, grandparents and siblings as well as "immediate family" of UK nationals or people who live here and have permission to remain Britain.

It also says it is looking at ways to increase the number of visas available for Ukrainian refugees, but these moves have come after criticism that current rules are too strict.

The government says that the number of Ukrainian refugees given permission to come to the UK has risen from about 50 on Sunday to 300.

But nearly 600 refugees are stuck in Calais in France wanting to cross the English Channel to Britain and almost 300 people have been turned away while trying to cross to the UK, French officials told the BBC.

The Ukrainian ambassador praised the UK effort urged for the "maximum" number of people to be admitted and for the process to be simplified, adding that any issues could be resolved later.

Facing accusations that the UK was doing less than other European countries, Europe Minister James Cleverly defended what the government had done far, saying visa plans for refugees had only been set up "very recently".

Speaking on Monday 7 March, Mr Cleverly told the BBC: "We will seek to be generous in hosting Ukrainians - both those that have family here, and those that don't."

'Lack of humanity'

At the weekend, senior French politician Gerald Darmanin wrote to UK Home Secretary Priti Patel, saying the response to people in distress was "completely unsuitable" and showed a "lack of humanity", calling for the UK to put staff at Calais to help Ukrainian refugees cross the English Channel.

But Ms Patel said it was "wrong to say we are turning people back" and said the Home Office already had people working in Calais to support Ukrainian families.

A family of Ukrainian refugees at the Hungarian border

The main opposition party in the UK Parliament, the Labour Party, is calling for more emergency visas for Ukrainians who want to reach the UK.

Labour's Yvette Cooper said families fleeing conflict in Ukraine "need urgent help right now to reach safety and get support" and that the current plans weren't enough.

The UK Home Office, which is the government department that looks after these decisions, is expected to announce further details about it's plans soon.

Which other countries are Ukraine's refugees fleeing to?

Most refugees are crossing to neighbouring countries to the west, such as Poland, Romania, Slovakia, Hungary and Moldova.

Over 180,000 people have moved on from these countries to others in Europe, according to the UN.

To get refugee status, they need to be Ukrainian citizens or people legally living in Ukraine, such as foreign students.

As they cross over the borders, refugees are told they do not need documents, but should preferably have their passports, birth certificates of children travelling with them and medical papers.

The EU says it is preparing to grant Ukrainians who flee the war an immediate right to stay and work throughout the club of 27 nations for up to three years.

They would also get access to housing, medical treatment and schooling for children.

Some people have walked for days to reach the borders, such as this Indian man who was studying in Ukraine

In Poland and other countries bordering Ukraine, refugees can stay in reception centres if they do not have friends or relatives to stay with. They are given food and medical care.

Poland is also preparing a medical train to transport injured Ukrainians caught up in the war.

Hungary and Romania are offering small amounts of money for food and clothing. Children are being given places in local schools.

The Czech Republic will allow refugees to apply for a special type of visa in order to stay in the country.