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UK Home Secretary Patel apologises for visa delays for Ukraine refugees

The BBC reported, UK Home Secretary Priti Patel has apologised "with frustration" for visa delays that have prevented thousands of Ukrainian refugees entering the UK.
Ms Patel told BBC News that only a quarter of the Ukrainians granted visas, 12,000, have reached the UK.
Would-be sponsors of refugees have criticised bureaucracy and delay in the Homes For Ukraine scheme.
Home Office figures published on Friday show the government has granted 40,900 visas to Ukrainians fleeing the war.
Of the visas granted:
- 28,500 were issued under the Ukraine Family Scheme
- and 12,500 under the Homes for Ukraine Scheme which allow people to sponsor Ukrainian refugees
In terms of arrivals into the UK:
- 10,800 have arrived under the family scheme
- and 1,200 under the sponsorship scheme
Ms Patel said: "Completely, it's been frustrating. I apologise with frustration myself."
She added: "I'll be very candid, it has taken time. Any new scheme takes time, any new visa system takes time."
Ms Patel is the second government minister to apologise for the delays this week, following the refugees minister Lord Harrington, who told parliament that "not enough" visas had been issued.
UK accused of employing ‘double standards’ over treatment of Ukrainian, Syrian refugees
Britain's numbers are lower than those accepted in comparable European countries.
The German government said earlier this week it had accepted 300,000 Ukrainians, while 20,000 have arrived in Ireland.
Ms Patel: "Germany is an EU country. They don't have visa checks, their borders are open.
UK relaxes visa rules for Ukrainian refugees
"It's not like for like. We are an independent third country, and we want to give people the status and security of coming to our country, along with the warm welcome."
Source: BBC
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Professor Riyadh Yousif Hamzah, President of the Royal University for Women, commented: “This initiative reflects our commitment to advancing women in STEM fields. We're cultivating a generation of creative, solution-driven female leaders who will drive national development. Our partnership with BENEFIT exemplifies the powerful synergy between academia and private sector in supporting educational innovation.”
Hanan Abdulla Hasan, Senior Manager, PR & Communication at BENEFIT, said: “We are honoured to collaborate with RUW in supporting this remarkable technology-focused event. It highlights our commitment to social responsibility, and our ongoing efforts to enhance the digital and innovation capabilities of young Bahraini women and foster their ability to harness technological tools in the service of a smarter, more sustainable future.”
For his part, Dr. Humam ElAgha, Acting Dean of the College of Engineering and Technology at the University, said: “BuildHer CityHack 2025 embodies our hands-on approach to education. By tackling real-world problems through creative thinking and sustainable solutions, we're preparing women to thrive in the knowledge economy – a cornerstone of the University's vision.”
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