Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what assessment her Department has made of the veracity of reports that Black and Ethnic Minority people fleeing from Ukraine are being denied safe passage and refuge in neighbouring countries; and what steps the Government is taking to support neighbouring countries to ensure safe passage of all people fleeing the conflict in Ukraine.

The FCDO is aware of reporting of difficulties faced by some Black and Ethnic Minority people seeking to leave to Ukraine. The UK has announced £120 million in emergency aid to help tackle Ukraine's humanitarian crisis. As well as ensuring that Ukrainians have access to basic necessities and medical supplies, this will help countries surrounding Ukraine to receive and support the increasing flow of refugees. A 4-person team of UK humanitarian experts arrived in Poland on 26 February and another is in Moldova to support the regional response, providing logistics advice and analysis of needs on the ground. We will deploy additional experts across the region in the coming days. We also have specially trained consular staff at the Ukrainian borders to help British nationals to leave the country safely.