• I WAS pleased to see the letter from London Labour leaders, including our council leader, Georgia Gould, to the home secretary, last week, with their pledge that they stand ready and willing to support Ukrainian families.

As suggested in the letter, creating an emergency task force to accelerate the sponsorship scheme is paramount to ensure as many Ukrainian families get sanctuary in the UK as quickly as possible.

One issue that remains particularly concerning is the images of unequal treatment of refugees from minority ethnic backgrounds.

The government must ensure that all those who need to leave can do so, no matter their ethnic backgrounds.

This crisis has shown the world that being made a refugee isn’t some type of Middle Eastern and North African vocation. It can happen in any part of the world and all refugees must be treated with the same compassion.

Camden has a proud record of welcoming those fleeing war and persecution.

My own parents and big sisters were welcomed with open arms in Highgate after they were forced to flee from Iran in the mid-1980s.

But their journey from Tehran to Highgate took nearly two years. Ukrainian families cannot afford to wait that long.

CAMRON AREF-ADIB
Labour Candidate
for Highgate Ward