New Zealand to take in 4,000 relatives of Ukrainian-born citizens, residents

By Islamuddin Sajid

ANKARA (AA) – New Zealand’s government on Tuesday announced it will take in 4,000 family members of Ukrainian-born New Zealand citizens and residents.

Immigration Minister Kris Faafoi said in a statement that the government has set up a special visa category, which is its “largest in decades to support an international humanitarian effort.”

The policy, which will run for a year, permits the estimated 1,600 Ukrainian-born New Zealanders, both citizens and residents, in New Zealand “to sponsor parents, grandparents, adult siblings, adult children and their immediate family members who were living in Ukraine, for a two-year visa,” according to the statement.

“It is a two-year visa that will allow applicants to work, and their children to attend school here. It’s estimated around 4,000 Ukrainians could be supported by this visa, making this our largest humanitarian visa policy,” Faafoi said.

Last week, New Zealand allowed some 300 Ukrainians in the country to extend their visas for a year.

The government also announced an additional NZ$4 million ($2.7 million) in funding to support Ukrainian communities.

“This funding is in addition to the initial NZ$2 million we have already provided and will help those immediately on the ground while we continue to look at options for further support,” Foreign Minister Nanaia Mahuta said on Tuesday.

Over 2.9 million people have fled from Ukraine since Russia launched the war on its western neighbor on Feb. 24, according to UN estimates.

At least 636 civilians have also been killed and 1,125 injured, the UN has said, while stressing that the true toll is likely much higher as access to areas of increased hostilities remains restricted.