How foreigners fleeing Ukraine have been left in a bureaucratic limbo

Europe, and particularly Poland, has opened its door to Ukrainian refugees for the reason that begin of the battle.

Round 4 million folks have fled Ukraine for Poland since 24 February and Ukrainians are legally allowed to remain within the nation. 

However non-Ukrainians -- who had been residing in Ukraine on the time of Russia's invasion and fled -- have been left in bureaucratic limbo.

Among the many 4 million, there have been 105,000 had been non-Ukrainians, made up of 100 completely different nationalities.

Arban and Khulan, initially from Central Asia, had been amongst them. 

When the battle began, they took a prepare to Poland. However they shortly discovered themselves unable to get the best paperwork to settle.

“To start with, we lived in a paid resort for a month, and we discovered a free hostel,” Khulan instructed Euronews.

“Then my girlfriend and I attempted to resettle in Canada. And whereas her visa was accepted, mine was refused, and I stayed right here.”

Arban and Khulan then found they'd missed a deadline to get the mandatory paperwork to remain within the nation.

After chatting with a lawyer, they realized that: “Throughout our first 15 days in Poland, it was essential to submit paperwork, and now [the lawyers] say that it's sophisticated.

“They are saying our solely possibility is to return to our nation or return to Ukraine,” Arban added.

Anna Michalska, a spokeswoman for Poland's border management, the best to remain within the nation is proscribed to Ukrainian residents.

“All those that escaped the battle and declared that they had been fleeing might cross the Polish-Ukrainian border,” she mentioned.

“However the particular act is meant for Ukrainian residents, and these folks can keep legally in Poland. The remainder of them must legalise their keep in the event that they wished to remain in Poland.’’

The Worldwide Group for Migration offers authorized and humanitarian help to folks fleeing Ukraine.

In keeping with Livia Styp-Rekowska, chief of mission for IOM, the assistance non-Ukrainian passport holders can entry is proscribed to their Ukrainian residency.

‘’If they'd everlasting residence in Ukraine, they've extra help they usually have authorized stays for one yr right here in Poland,” mentioned Styp-Rekowska.

“If they didn't have this in Ukraine, sadly, they solely get 15 days emergency keep in Poland, and through this time they've to use for residence in Poland which is difficult beneath the circumstances for the time being.’’

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