Mar 13, 2022: According to a report by Reuters, Britain will pay people to open their homes to Ukrainians fleeing the Russian invasion as the government moves to deflect anger over its response to the fastest-growing refugee crisis in Europe since World War II.

The government announced a new scheme over the weekend called the “Homes for Ukraine” which will let refugees from the war come to Britain even if they do not have family ties.

Britain’s government will pay people 350 pounds ($456) a month if they can offer refugees a spare room or property for a minimum period of six months.

“The UK stands behind Ukraine in their darkest hour and the British public understand the need to get as many people to safety as quickly as we can,” Michael Gove, the minister for housing, said in a statement.

“I urge people across the country to join the national effort and offer support to our Ukrainian friends. Together we can give a safe home to those who so desperately need it.”

Earlier, the government had been under attack from all the main political parties because of its insistence that Ukrainians seek visas and biometric tests before arriving in Britain, saying this prioritised bureaucracy over the welfare of those fleeing war.

As Prime Minister Boris Johnson seeks to portray Britain as helping lead the global response to the Russian invasion, the new scheme ensures members of the public, charities, businesses and community groups should be able to offer accommodation via a web page by the end of next week, the government said.

Since Russia’s invasion of Ukraine started, the number of refugees fleeing Ukraine has been rapidly rising could cross to more than 4 million, double the current estimates of about 2 million, the UN’s Refugee Agency said last week.

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