Package Of Support For Arriving Refugees

Ukrainian refugees who come to Jersey will be given registered status to live here for three years and have free access to hospital care.

They'll also each be given £500 in cash to cover basic essentials.

28 visa applications have been received so far. 

14 refugees have arrived and are staying with their Jersey-based relatives.

Around 50 more have enquired and would be eligible for a visa to join their relatives here.

The government is not adopting the UK 'Homes for Ukraine' scheme at the moment.

The Chief Minister says that's because of the complexity of the ongoing situation.

Those who come into Jersey also get a JY number, a JT sim card with £100 credit, a bank account, and immediate medical care.

Children will also be given a school place.

"The Children and Families hub are supporting families after their arrival this includes finding places within our Islands schools, this will support the feeling of being welcomed into the Jersey Community with a focus of the needs of the pupil being matched to the appropriate school environment.

The hub and schools will also be able to facilitate any support the child or young person may need through school-based ELSA’s (Emotional Literacy Support Assistance) and Counsellors as a result of attending a new school in a new jurisdiction and any trauma they have experienced.

A number of elements of support are still being finalised, including accommodation provision and financial support. When appropriate support is available through Back to Work to help find work on island.

Language skills provision is being developed with Highlands (i.e. English as a second language (ESOL))."

The government kickstarted the Ukraine appeal with a £1million donation. That followed a Jersey Overseas Aid donation of £360,000.

Islanders, businesses and community groups have donated more than £610,000 in total so far.

More than £350,000 of that has been donated to the Bailiff's Appeal directly through the Jersey Side by Side website.

Donations can be made here.

More than £1.8million in grants have been awarded so far.

"Grants awarded include the provision of emergency trauma kits and high-quality ballistic vests and helmets to the Ukrainian Ministry of Health; the establishment of support services for highly vulnerable refugees (including people with disabilities) in Moldova; supporting locally led humanitarian action through Red Cross teams inside Ukraine; improving access to essential information; legal assistance and protection for refugees and internally displaced persons and the provision of core relief items such as food, blankets and shelter. Recipients of the grants have included UNHCR; the Red Cross; the UN’s Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs; Humanity & Inclusion and Crown Agents.

Additional grants will be issued in the coming days.

JOA has also been playing a key coordinating role in translating the extraordinary generosity of Islander’s who have donated much needed items to those fleeing the conflict.

JOA funds have helped facilitate the transportation of hundreds of pallets of goods from Jersey to Poland thanks to the remarkable efforts of the Honorary Polish Consul and local businesses.

Picture Credit: Magdalena Jordan Zabierek

In addition, Jersey’s Health department have generously donated 200 brand new but spare Oxygen Concentrators left over from the Covid response. JOA has verified with our specialist logistics and procurement partners, Crown Agents that these items are required, and indeed Ukraine’s Ministry of Health confirmed they are desperately needed.

With JOA funding and the generous support of Jersey Post, Crown Agents will ensure they reach medical teams and hospitals inside Ukraine, including in the besieged cities where they are needed most to treat civilians being indiscriminately shelled by Russia."

Assets with a value of £259million have been frozen by firms in Jersey since the invasion of Ukraine began.

Jersey has followed the UK in imposing sanctions on Ukrainian oligarchs with links to Vladimir Putin's war machine.

The island suspended all forms of tax cooperation with Russia on 17 March.

A dedicated helpline has been set up to offer support to Ukrainian refugees coming into the island.

The number is 01534 441144 and the email is ukraine@gov.je