Cork Community Response Forum to lead council’s handling of Ukrainian refugees

Initially, the group was created to ensure that vulnerable members of the community or those who live alone can access vital grocery, medicine and fuel deliveries and social benefits.

Ms Doherty said it was really important that accommodation was managed through the central system of International Protection and Red Cross accommodation services.

However, she said, “We have started preparation at the local level to ensure that the city is ready to support the Ukrainian people who come to us in this time of crisis.”

She said the Community Response Forum can now play a leading role in the city in responding to refugees and that key partners from the corporate and NGO sectors have now become involved in the forum.

There are many unknowns at the moment, Ms Doherty said, but said some Ukrainians have already been accommodated in hotels in the city.

“It is difficult to know how many people will come over the next few weeks. It’s emerging right now, but what’s important is that we have a very coordinated response, that we’re making sure that we’re using resources really, really well and avoiding duplication.

Chief Superintendent Tom Myers told the meeting that around 200 people entered through Cork Airport after fleeing Ukraine.

He said: “We expect a lot more than that. We are opening lines of communication between our community police services and members of the Ukrainian community. There are paperwork for the immigration offices to complete, but most have obtained the 90 day visa and arrangements have been made for them to return to update their visa after that.

He said there had been no incidents of unaccompanied children passing through the airport, but the gardaí were monitoring the situation closely.