Ukrainian refugees children arrive at a primary school in Cambridgeshire with their mother after being offered sanctuary in the UK. PA
Ukrainian refugees children arrive at a primary school in Cambridgeshire with their mother after being offered sanctuary in the UK. PA
Ukrainian refugees children arrive at a primary school in Cambridgeshire with their mother after being offered sanctuary in the UK. PA
Ukrainian refugees children arrive at a primary school in Cambridgeshire with their mother after being offered sanctuary in the UK. PA

Homelessness among Ukrainian refugees in UK rises by 30% in a month


Laura O'Callaghan
  • English
  • Arabic

The number of Ukrainian refugees presenting themselves as homeless in the UK has shot up by almost a third since last month, data shows.

More than 2,000 Ukrainian families with children and 900 individuals are classed as homeless in the UK, according to the most recent government figures. The figure is up by 800 since last month, a rise of 27 per cent.

The spike in homelessness — which has placed pressure on councils already struggling to find emergency and long-term accommodation for those on the housing list — has prompted calls for changes to the Homes for Ukraine scheme.

The programme was hailed as a major success after its launch earlier this year, with more than 200,000 homeowners signing up in the first few weeks.

The government agreed to hand a monthly “thank you” payment of £350 ($429) to those who provide sanctuary to individuals, couples, families or groups of Ukrainians in their home or second property.

But in the nine months since the launch of the programme, food and energy bills have risen sharply amid the cost-of-living crisis fuelled by Russia’s invasion of Ukraine. The increase in bills is believed to have been behind the decision taken by many hosts to discontinue their participation in the scheme when the minimum six-month period was reached.

As a result, there has been a sharp rise in the number of Ukrainians registering as homeless with councils across the UK.

There are fears the numbers could rise in the coming weeks as more households are expected to drop out of the scheme as they reach the six-month mark.

Michael Gove, the housing minister, is holding discussions with Treasury officials about increasing payments to hosts to reflect the rise in the cost of living, The Times reported.

A shake-up of the system is also understood to be under discussion, possibly paving the way for more cash to be awarded to those hosting a family rather than just one refugee.

Councils in Kent, Hampshire and Gloucestershire recently began offering additional payments to host families — on top of the government’s allowance.

According to the latest data, there are 2,985 Ukrainians who have presented themselves as homeless to councils. But the actual number is thought to be much higher as some councils do not provide such data to the government.

The head of the Local Government Association, the UK-wide body made up of councils, expressed concern about the spike in homelessness among Ukrainians who came to the country seeking refuge from war.

James Jamieson, chairman of the association, called for an immediate increase in payments to hosts and said councils need “urgent solutions” to spiralling homelessness problems.

“It is absolutely crucial that support to sponsors is enhanced as inflation and energy costs increase so new or existing hosts are encouraged to sponsor in the longer term,” he said.

“Council housing and homelessness services are already under significant pressures and further increases may mean families are forced to move into temporary accommodation away from the new schools, jobs and communities they have been building since they arrived.

“Councils will continue to do all they can to help those who are owed homelessness duties, but need urgent solutions to pressing housing needs in the short and the long term across all the schemes that welcome new arrivals to the UK.”

King Charles III last week opened a new centre in London where Ukrainian refugees are welcomed and offered support. The monarch unveiled the initiative during a visit to the Ukrainian Catholic Cathedral of the Holy Family in Exile, alongside Ukraine’s first lady, Olena Zelenska.

Ukrainian refugees flee Russia's invasion — in pictures

  • Daniil, 13, son of Maryna Galla, leans on a handrail at the Central Station in Berlin, Germany. Maryna and her son reached Berlin on Thursday after a long journey from Mariupol in Ukraine. AP
    Daniil, 13, son of Maryna Galla, leans on a handrail at the Central Station in Berlin, Germany. Maryna and her son reached Berlin on Thursday after a long journey from Mariupol in Ukraine. AP
  • A woman from Ukraine walks up the stairs to her room in a hostel in Budapest, Hungary. AP
    A woman from Ukraine walks up the stairs to her room in a hostel in Budapest, Hungary. AP
  • A young boy from Ukraine eats chocolate in a hostel in Budapest. AP
    A young boy from Ukraine eats chocolate in a hostel in Budapest. AP
  • A girl from Ukraine rests on the floor in the Budapest hostel for refugees. AP
    A girl from Ukraine rests on the floor in the Budapest hostel for refugees. AP
  • A woman who fled Ukraine waits in the hostel in Budapest. Nearly 300 Ukrainian refugees, mostly women and children, are being housed in the hostel near the centre of Budapest. AP
    A woman who fled Ukraine waits in the hostel in Budapest. Nearly 300 Ukrainian refugees, mostly women and children, are being housed in the hostel near the centre of Budapest. AP
  • A woman comforts a child as refugees wait in a hall at the train station in Przemysl, near the Polish-Ukrainian border. AFP
    A woman comforts a child as refugees wait in a hall at the train station in Przemysl, near the Polish-Ukrainian border. AFP
  • Ukrainian refugees look out of the window of a train bound for Krakow at Przemysl Glowny train station. Reuters
    Ukrainian refugees look out of the window of a train bound for Krakow at Przemysl Glowny train station. Reuters
  • Ukrainian refugee Zoya Vertegel, aged 85, waits to board a train to Krakow on the platform at Przemysl Glowny train station. Reuters
    Ukrainian refugee Zoya Vertegel, aged 85, waits to board a train to Krakow on the platform at Przemysl Glowny train station. Reuters
  • Ukrainian refugees wait for transport at the railway station in Warsaw, Poland. AP
    Ukrainian refugees wait for transport at the railway station in Warsaw, Poland. AP
  • A child who fled the Russian invasion in neighbouring Ukraine plays with a yellow balloon in a ballroom converted into a makeshift refugee shelter at a four-star hotel in Suceava, Romania. AP
    A child who fled the Russian invasion in neighbouring Ukraine plays with a yellow balloon in a ballroom converted into a makeshift refugee shelter at a four-star hotel in Suceava, Romania. AP
  • Border police at the Romanian-Ukrainian border push an elderly woman in an office chair after she fled the conflict in neighbouring Ukraine. AP
    Border police at the Romanian-Ukrainian border push an elderly woman in an office chair after she fled the conflict in neighbouring Ukraine. AP
  • Passengers wait on the platform of Lviv railway station in Ukraine. AP
    Passengers wait on the platform of Lviv railway station in Ukraine. AP
  • A child sits in a pushchair after fleeing Ukraine at the Romanian border in Siret. AP
    A child sits in a pushchair after fleeing Ukraine at the Romanian border in Siret. AP
  • People who fled the war in Ukraine rest inside an indoor sports stadium being used as a refugee centre in the village of Medyka in Poland. AP
    People who fled the war in Ukraine rest inside an indoor sports stadium being used as a refugee centre in the village of Medyka in Poland. AP
  • A wheelchair user who fled the conflict in Ukraine awaits transport at the Romanian-Ukrainian border in Siret. AP
    A wheelchair user who fled the conflict in Ukraine awaits transport at the Romanian-Ukrainian border in Siret. AP
  • Ukrainian refugees cry as they reunite at the Medyka border crossing in Poland. AP
    Ukrainian refugees cry as they reunite at the Medyka border crossing in Poland. AP
  • Refugees from Ukraine cross the border at Medyka in south-eastern Poland. AFP
    Refugees from Ukraine cross the border at Medyka in south-eastern Poland. AFP
  • A shelter for Ukrainian war refugees in a sports hall in the small Bavarian village of Eichenau, near Munich, in southern Germany. AFP
    A shelter for Ukrainian war refugees in a sports hall in the small Bavarian village of Eichenau, near Munich, in southern Germany. AFP
  • The sports hall is equipped with camp beds. AFP
    The sports hall is equipped with camp beds. AFP
  • Ukrainian refugees play on the floor in the sports hall. AFP
    Ukrainian refugees play on the floor in the sports hall. AFP
  • Ukrainian refugees line up to register in Warsaw. AP
    Ukrainian refugees line up to register in Warsaw. AP
  • Refugees wait for transport at a railway station in Przemysl, Poland, after fleeing the war in Ukraine. AP
    Refugees wait for transport at a railway station in Przemysl, Poland, after fleeing the war in Ukraine. AP
  • Refugees wait for transport at a railway station in Przemysl, Poland, after fleeing the war in neighbouring Ukraine. AP
    Refugees wait for transport at a railway station in Przemysl, Poland, after fleeing the war in neighbouring Ukraine. AP
  • Ukrainian refugees walk to their foster home in the village of Mumliswil after travelling from Krakow in a plane chartered by a Swiss millionaire. AFP
    Ukrainian refugees walk to their foster home in the village of Mumliswil after travelling from Krakow in a plane chartered by a Swiss millionaire. AFP
  • About 90 Ukrainians - nearly all women and children - are being flown to Switzerland to escape the violence in their conflict-torn country. The plane was chartered by Swiss millionaire Guido Fluri. AFP
    About 90 Ukrainians - nearly all women and children - are being flown to Switzerland to escape the violence in their conflict-torn country. The plane was chartered by Swiss millionaire Guido Fluri. AFP
  • A woman receives help from Polish paramedics as other Ukrainian refugees pass through the border crossing in Medyka in south-eastern Poland. AP
    A woman receives help from Polish paramedics as other Ukrainian refugees pass through the border crossing in Medyka in south-eastern Poland. AP
  • Ukrainian refugee Karolina, aged 3, from Nikopol, looks through a fence as she arrives at Przemysl Glowny train station. Reuters
    Ukrainian refugee Karolina, aged 3, from Nikopol, looks through a fence as she arrives at Przemysl Glowny train station. Reuters
  • A Ukrainian woman sits on a bed at an exhibition hall turned into a refugee centre in Nadarzyn, near Warsaw, Poland. AP
    A Ukrainian woman sits on a bed at an exhibition hall turned into a refugee centre in Nadarzyn, near Warsaw, Poland. AP
  • Refugees from Ukraine wait to get on buses to other destinations in Poland outside the train station in Przemysl. AFP
    Refugees from Ukraine wait to get on buses to other destinations in Poland outside the train station in Przemysl. AFP
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets

At Eternity’s Gate

Director: Julian Schnabel

Starring: Willem Dafoe, Oscar Isaacs, Mads Mikkelsen

Three stars

The burning issue

The internal combustion engine is facing a watershed moment – major manufacturer Volvo is to stop producing petroleum-powered vehicles by 2021 and countries in Europe, including the UK, have vowed to ban their sale before 2040. The National takes a look at the story of one of the most successful technologies of the last 100 years and how it has impacted life in the UAE.

Part three: an affection for classic cars lives on

Read part two: how climate change drove the race for an alternative 

Read part one: how cars came to the UAE

The specs: 2019 GMC Yukon Denali

Price, base: Dh306,500
Engine: 6.2-litre V8
Transmission: 10-speed automatic
Power: 420hp @ 5,600rpm
Torque: 621Nm @ 4,100rpm​​​​​​​
​​​​​​​Fuel economy, combined: 12.9L / 100km

2.0

Director: S Shankar

Producer: Lyca Productions; presented by Dharma Films

Cast: Rajnikanth, Akshay Kumar, Amy Jackson, Sudhanshu Pandey

Rating: 3.5/5 stars

Teams

Punjabi Legends Owners: Inzamam-ul-Haq and Intizar-ul-Haq; Key player: Misbah-ul-Haq

Pakhtoons Owners: Habib Khan and Tajuddin Khan; Key player: Shahid Afridi

Maratha Arabians Owners: Sohail Khan, Ali Tumbi, Parvez Khan; Key player: Virender Sehwag

Bangla Tigers Owners: Shirajuddin Alam, Yasin Choudhary, Neelesh Bhatnager, Anis and Rizwan Sajan; Key player: TBC

Colombo Lions Owners: Sri Lanka Cricket; Key player: TBC

Kerala Kings Owners: Hussain Adam Ali and Shafi Ul Mulk; Key player: Eoin Morgan

Venue Sharjah Cricket Stadium

Format 10 overs per side, matches last for 90 minutes

Timeline October 25: Around 120 players to be entered into a draft, to be held in Dubai; December 21: Matches start; December 24: Finals

The%20specs
%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3EEngine%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%201.8-litre%204-cyl%20turbo%0D%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EPower%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3E190hp%20at%205%2C200rpm%0D%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3ETorque%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20320Nm%20from%201%2C800-5%2C000rpm%0D%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3ETransmission%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3ESeven-speed%20dual-clutch%20auto%0D%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EFuel%20consumption%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%206.7L%2F100km%0D%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EPrice%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20From%20Dh111%2C195%0D%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EOn%20sale%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3ENow%3C%2Fp%3E%0A
Profile Box

Company/date started: 2015

Founder/CEO: Mohammed Toraif

Based: Manama, Bahrain

Sector: Sales, Technology, Conservation

Size: (employees/revenue) 4/ 5,000 downloads

Stage: 1 ($100,000)

Investors: Two first-round investors including, 500 Startups, Fawaz Al Gosaibi Holding (Saudi Arabia)

THE BIO:

Favourite holiday destination: Thailand. I go every year and I’m obsessed with the fitness camps there.

Favourite book: Born to Run by Christopher McDougall. It’s an amazing story about barefoot running.

Favourite film: A League of their Own. I used to love watching it in my granny’s house when I was seven.

Personal motto: Believe it and you can achieve it.

Electric scooters: some rules to remember
  • Riders must be 14-years-old or over
  • Wear a protective helmet
  • Park the electric scooter in designated parking lots (if any)
  • Do not leave electric scooter in locations that obstruct traffic or pedestrians
  • Solo riders only, no passengers allowed
  • Do not drive outside designated lanes
%3Cp%3EMATA%0D%3Cbr%3EArtist%3A%20M.I.A%0D%3Cbr%3ELabel%3A%20Island%0D%3Cbr%3ERating%3A%203.5%2F5%3C%2Fp%3E%0A
If you go

The flights
Emirates and Etihad fly direct to Nairobi, with fares starting from Dh1,695. The resort can be reached from Nairobi via a 35-minute flight from Wilson Airport or Jomo Kenyatta International Airport, or by road, which takes at least three hours.

The rooms
Rooms at Fairmont Mount Kenya range from Dh1,870 per night for a deluxe room to Dh11,000 per night for the William Holden Cottage.

AL%20BOOM
%3Cp%20style%3D%22text-align%3Ajustify%3B%22%3E%26nbsp%3B%26nbsp%3B%26nbsp%3BDirector%3AAssad%20Al%20Waslati%26nbsp%3B%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%20style%3D%22text-align%3Ajustify%3B%22%3E%0DStarring%3A%20Omar%20Al%20Mulla%2C%20Badr%20Hakami%20and%20Rehab%20Al%20Attar%0D%3Cbr%3E%0D%3Cbr%3EStreaming%20on%3A%20ADtv%0D%3Cbr%3E%0D%3Cbr%3ERating%3A%203.5%2F5%0D%3Cbr%3E%0D%3Cbr%3E%3C%2Fp%3E%0A
Racecard

6.35pm: American Business Council – Maiden (PA) Dh80,000 (Dirt) 1,600m 

7.10pm: British Business Group – Maiden (TB) Dh82,500 (D) 1,200m 

7.45pm: CCI France UAE – Handicap (TB) Dh87,500 (D) 1,400m 

8.20pm: Czech Business Council – Rated Conditions (TB) Dh105,000 (D) 1,400m 

8.55pm: Netherlands Business Council – Rated Conditions (TB) Dh95,000 (D) 1,600m 

9.30pm: Indian Business and Professional Council – Handicap (TB) Dh95,000 (D) 1,200m  

The Facility’s Versatility

Between the start of the 2020 IPL on September 20, and the end of the Pakistan Super League this coming Thursday, the Zayed Cricket Stadium has had an unprecedented amount of traffic.
Never before has a ground in this country – or perhaps anywhere in the world – had such a volume of major-match cricket.
And yet scoring has remained high, and Abu Dhabi has seen some classic encounters in every format of the game.
 
October 18, IPL, Kolkata Knight Riders tied with Sunrisers Hyderabad
The two playoff-chasing sides put on 163 apiece, before Kolkata went on to win the Super Over
 
January 8, ODI, UAE beat Ireland by six wickets
A century by CP Rizwan underpinned one of UAE’s greatest ever wins, as they chased 270 to win with an over to spare
 
February 6, T10, Northern Warriors beat Delhi Bulls by eight wickets
The final of the T10 was chiefly memorable for a ferocious over of fast bowling from Fidel Edwards to Nicholas Pooran
 
March 14, Test, Afghanistan beat Zimbabwe by six wickets
Eleven wickets for Rashid Khan, 1,305 runs scored in five days, and a last session finish
 
June 17, PSL, Islamabad United beat Peshawar Zalmi by 15 runs
Usman Khawaja scored a hundred as Islamabad posted the highest score ever by a Pakistan team in T20 cricket

The Gandhi Murder
  • 71 - Years since the death of MK Gandhi, also christened India's Father of the Nation
  • 34 - Nationalities featured in the film The Gandhi Murder
  • 7 - million dollars, the film's budget 
How it works

1) The liquid nanoclay is a mixture of water and clay that aims to convert desert land to fertile ground

2) Instead of water draining straight through the sand, it apparently helps the soil retain water

3) One application is said to last five years

4) The cost of treatment per hectare (2.4 acres) of desert varies from $7,000 to $10,000 per hectare 

Sarfira

Director: Sudha Kongara Prasad

Starring: Akshay Kumar, Radhika Madan, Paresh Rawal 

Rating: 2/5

TCL INFO

Teams:
Punjabi Legends 
Owners: Inzamam-ul-Haq and Intizar-ul-Haq; Key player: Misbah-ul-Haq
Pakhtoons Owners: Habib Khan and Tajuddin Khan; Key player: Shahid Afridi
Maratha Arabians Owners: Sohail Khan, Ali Tumbi, Parvez Khan; Key player: Virender Sehwag
Bangla Tigers Owners: Shirajuddin Alam, Yasin Choudhary, Neelesh Bhatnager, Anis and Rizwan Sajan; Key player: TBC
Colombo Lions Owners: Sri Lanka Cricket; Key player: TBC
Kerala Kings Owners: Hussain Adam Ali and Shafi Ul Mulk; Key player: Eoin Morgan

Venue Sharjah Cricket Stadium
Format 10 overs per side, matches last for 90 minutes
When December 14-17

MATCH INFO

Manchester City 0

Wolves 2 (Traore 80', 90 4')

How it works

Booklava works on a subscription model. On signing up you receive a free book as part of a 30-day-trial period, after which you pay US$9.99 (Dh36.70) per month to gain access to a library of books and discounts of up to 30 per cent on selected titles. You can cancel your subscription at any time. For more details go to www.booklava.com

Signs%20of%20%20%20%20%20%20%20heat%20stroke
%3Cul%3E%0A%3Cli%3EThe%20loss%20of%20sodium%20chloride%20in%20our%20sweat%20can%20lead%20to%20confusion%20and%20an%20altered%20mental%20status%20and%20slurred%20speech%3C%2Fli%3E%0A%3Cli%3EBody%20temperature%20above%2039%C2%B0C%3C%2Fli%3E%0A%3Cli%3EHot%2C%20dry%20and%20red%20or%20damp%20skin%20can%20indicate%20heatstroke%3C%2Fli%3E%0A%3Cli%3EA%20faster%20pulse%20than%20usual%3C%2Fli%3E%0A%3Cli%3EDizziness%2C%20nausea%20and%20headaches%20are%20also%20signs%20of%20overheating%3C%2Fli%3E%0A%3Cli%3EIn%20extreme%20cases%2C%20victims%20can%20lose%20consciousness%20and%20require%20immediate%20medical%20attention%3C%2Fli%3E%0A%3C%2Ful%3E%0A
MATCH INFO

Manchester City 6 Huddersfield Town 1
Man City: Agüero (25', 35', 75'), Jesus (31'), Silva (48'), Kongolo (84' og)
Huddersfield: Stankovic (43')

Essentials

The flights

Emirates and Etihad fly direct from the UAE to Geneva from Dh2,845 return, including taxes. The flight takes 6 hours. 

The package

Clinique La Prairie offers a variety of programmes. A six-night Master Detox costs from 14,900 Swiss francs (Dh57,655), including all food, accommodation and a set schedule of medical consultations and spa treatments.

Updated: December 06, 2022, 11:02 AM