Men are offering Ukrainian women a place to stay in the UK in return for sex, a charity says. They claim the official Homes For Ukraine government scheme is being exploited by men who want women to come and live with them in return for sexual favours.
The charity Positive Action in Housing says it has received direct reports from young Ukrainian women who say men who have registered of the Government site are contacting them to offer a home in return for sex. Sixteen refugee and anti-trafficking organisations have already warned of the programme's insufficient safeguards to protect women and children in a letter to communities secretary Michael Gove.
Positive Action In Housing says one man contacted a young Ukrainian woman who was seeking information about Homes for Ukraine on social media and asked her to send photos of herself. He allegedly wrote: “There are some people who are interested in coming to my house. So I need to make a decision. I am a doctor and live alone in a big house.”
She says he sent pictures of himself sitting in first class on a plane, a picture of his sports car, and the rooms in a luxury house, including a hot tub. The woman responded: “I'll probably use the official application, as I don't trust anyone in such a situation coming to a foreign country… I'm not looking for dating. And I know what some people use it for, I'm also not into some kind of escort.”
He said: “I am doing this through the official route. I have registered and I can nominate one person,” reports GlasgowLive. The man sent a screenshot of his official confirmation email from the UK Government’s Homes for Ukraine Scheme followed by an offer of an “arrangement“.
He wrote: "So, free accommodation, food, expenses, plus a monthly allowance. The other option for you is to register with charities in which case you will allocated randomly.”
The woman then told him she was fleeing the war with her mother, after which he changed his mind. Charity director Robina Qureshi said: "We are right now observing safeguarding breaches and unsafe situations on an industrial scale as a result of the Homes for Refugees Scheme.
“We are worried that Ukrainian refugees , especially children and young people as young as 13, confuse the official registered email from Homes for Ukrainians sent to those who sign up to the government register, and think the “sponsor” is legitimate and cleared.
“Over five hundred Ukraine families, children and young people have contacted us for advice with visas and sponsors. The numbers of children and young people seeking to travel alone is alarming and unprecedented. Their parents are determined to get them out of war zones and are turning to social media to find “sponsors”.
“We would not send foster children or children about to be adopted onto social media to find new mothers and fathers. So why are we doing this to the children of Ukrainians?
"Across the water, Ireland expects to take in up to 200,000. This country must do what every other country in Europe is doing right now, roll up our sleeves work hand in hand with NGOs and registered volunteers and let Ukrainians enter the UK.
"Drop the sponsorship and visa requirements so that people do not need to wait in war zones or be targets for people traffickers and people with the wrong intent on social media."
