Ukrainian refugees could face 'backlash' after initial support

The UN's refugee chief has warned of a potential "backlash" against people fleeing the conflict in Ukraine after an initial wave of support.

Filippo Grandi, the organisation's high commissioner for refugees, said Europe's solidarity with Ukrainians could "exhaust itself" if the fighting continues for many months to come.

Mr Grandi recalled that when Syrians fleeing war began entering the continent in 2015, they received a warm welcome initially which then descended into acrimony, with the rise of anti-migrant sentiment.

He warned that the number of Ukrainians who had left their country - estimated by the UN to be more than 3.5 million - has already far surpassed the number of Syrians.

“Economic preoccupation, the impact of Covid - they will reemerge inevitably,” Mr Grandi told the Politico website.

“And then, if the situation is protracted, which we don’t know, but it might well be, then I fear that the wave of solidarity might exhaust itself and provoke a backlash, which would make things more difficult.”

He said European countries which were receiving the majority of refugees risked being "overburdened", so a more structured system of how people are distributed should be developed as the crisis unfolds.

Europe is facing its biggest refugee crisis since the Second World War.

Germany calls for 'air bridge'

Germany has called for an "air bridge" to fly refugees escaping Ukraine to the US as Europe reels under the numbers fleeing the war.

Annalena Baerbock, the German foreign minister, said: "Not only do we need safe corridors, we need an air bridge of solidarity. I am here today to appeal to all my European friends, to the world community, and to our transatlantic partners. We need common solidarity for the Ukrainians."

The Homes for Ukraine scheme was launched last week in the UK. It recorded 44,000 registrations by families and organisations within five hours, 89,000 by early Tuesday morning and 100,000 by lunchtime.

Meanwhile, more than 100 businesses have joined together to provide Ukrainian refugees with jobs.

Firms offering jobs and services include Tesco, Marks & Spencer, AstraZeneca and Nestle. Poundland, the AA, Oxford Education Group - which teaches English and resettlement skills - and Transperfect, which offers language skills, have also offered to help.