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STATES OF JERSEY
SUPPORT AND AID FOR UKRAINE
Presented to the States on 31st March 2022 by the Chief Minister
STATES GREFFE
2022 R.35
REPORT
Contents
Introduction .................................................................................................................... 2 Emergency Planning arrangements ................................................................................ 2 Visa arrangements .......................................................................................................... 3 Support for Ukrainians in Jersey .................................................................................... 3 Humanitarian Assistance and Jersey Overseas Aid ........................................................ 4 Sanctions and economic measures ................................................................................. 5 Restriction of Jersey airspace ......................................................................................... 6
Cyber security................................................................................................................. 6 Further Support services ................................................................................................. 7
The Government of Jersey continues to stand alongside the UK and international partners in its condemnation of the appalling actions of Russia against Ukraine its people. We have seen Islanders respond with the compassion that one would expect. Among our community are people who experienced first-hand an occupation by a foreign force.
This report is presented in line with P.36/2022 and sets out the actions taken by the Government of Jersey to provide support and deliver aid to the people of the Ukraine. This includes comprehensive emergency planning and cyber security arrangements; visa and immigration considerations; details of our humanitarian and overseas aid response; the many support services that are being provided by departments across government; and, finally, the wide-ranging sanctions package we have implemented targeting Russia.
The Government has been considering information and intelligence about the crisis and analysing the risks arising from it since before the invasion. Ministers and officers have worked quickly to implement a series of supporting measures to assist the people of Ukraine and have considered the implications of further escalation.
Emergency Planning arrangements
Under the political direction of the Council of Ministers and the Emergencies Council, the work of various specialist teams sits within an officer level coordination structure with a Strategic Coordinating Group (SCG), Tactical Coordinating Group (TCG) and two expert led technical advice cells. Some of these teams, such as those dealing with visas, humanitarian and overseas aid, support services and the implementation of sanctions and other measures are managed through normal business as usual channels, included in the overall coordination structure to aid common awareness and readiness
in the event of escalation. Others are delivered more fully within the coordination structure though always with relevant experts leading and shaping their work.
Both the SCG, TCG and all the cells have a broad representation of expertise including, in many cases, the chief executives of the key infrastructure providers and partners.
The risk and threat assessment is under constant review, evolving with the conflict and the wider crisis. In turn, the options and contingencies in place to avoid or reduce the worst effects of a range of scenarios are also under ongoing review.
The various workstreams are supported by subject matter experts of across government and industry and, where appropriate, dialogue with UK government experts is also drawn upon to help shape and refine planning.
Jersey has introduced the Ukraine Family Scheme in alignment with the UK. This enables family members of Ukrainian nationals living in Jersey to apply for a visa to seek refuge in the Island. It applies to extended family and their immediate family members.
The scope of this scheme has been significantly widened since its initial introduction. We have received visa applications from 28 Ukrainians wishing to come Jersey, to date 14 Ukrainians have arrived and are staying with their relatives, already on Island.
Up to a further 50 relatives have enquired and would meet visa requirements should they wish to join their relatives in Jersey. Additionally, it is recognised that a number of male relatives, generally of military age, who are currently prohibited from leaving Ukraine, may later wish to join their relatives in Jersey if they are able to do so and would therefore obviously qualify under this scheme.
A decision to continue with the Ukraine Family Scheme', and not adopt the UK's Homes for Ukraine Scheme' at this time, but to keep it under review, has been made by the Council of Ministers. This is due to the complexity of the ongoing situation which requires further consideration.
Support for Ukrainians in Jersey
A dedicated helpline has been set-up to plan and co-ordinate the support services available from the Government of Jersey. This helpline is staffed 8am to 6pm Monday to Friday, 10am to 4pm weekends.
The helpline can be reached on +44 (0)1534 441144 or contacted via email at ukraine@gov.je
The Ukrainian Support team is the central point of contact for all affected persons and is co-ordinating support once visas have been granted. This support includes initial health-checks through General Practitioners, as well as referrals to dentists and opticians where required. We are currently assessing suitable accommodation using Government of Jersey owned properties and the kind offers of self-contained units of accommodation from the general public.
Support has been put in place in place to address urgent needs to support these individuals including:
• Each family is in regular contact with a dedicated team
• All have been granted immigration permission for 3 years, JY numbers and registered status.
• Immediate medical care
• Free access to hospital services
• Immediate £500 cash payment per person to cover essentials.
• JT sim cards have also been issued with £100 credit.
• HSBC agreed to provide basic bank accounts
• Any children will be supported by Children and Family Hub to ensure
placement for completion of compulsory education.
The Children and Families hub are supporting families after their arrival this includes finding places within our Islands schools, this will support the feeling of being welcomed into the Jersey Community with a focus of the needs of the pupil being matched to the appropriate school environment. The hub and schools will also be able to facilitate any support the child or young person may need through school based ELSA's (Emotional Literacy Support Assistance) and Counsellors as a result of attending a new school in a new jurisdiction and any trauma they have experienced.
A number of elements of support are still being finalised, including accommodation provision and financial support. When appropriate support is available through Back to Work to help find work on island. Language skills provision is being developed with Highlands (i.e. English as a second language (ESOL)).
Humanitarian Assistance and Jersey Overseas Aid
On 2nd March 2022 the Bailiff of Jersey, in coordination with the Government of Jersey and Jersey Overseas Aid, launched an appeal for charitable donations to help support innocent civilians affected by the conflict.
On 4th of March the Government of Jersey announced that it would kickstart this appeal with a donation of £1m. Meanwhile, Jersey Side by Side, the charity established following the 2004 Tsunami, will collect donations eligible for tax relief, and is working with a network of charitable organisations in Jersey to help raise money. Jersey Overseas Aid (JOA) will ensure that the funds are directed to the agencies and locations where they will have the most impact, and ensure they are properly accounted for. Funds will be disbursed as soon as sufficient sums have been raised.
Since the invasion began JOA have remained in close contact with its humanitarian partners and continue to receive daily situation reports, from the Red Cross, the UN's Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs and UNHCR (Th UNs refugee agency). Receiving reliable, accurate and up to date information has enabled JOA to
identify where the needs are greatest and where Jersey funds can make the biggest impact.
To date, almost £2million has been raised. This includes the Government's donation, the Bailiff 's Ukraine Appeal and existing JOA resources of which just under £1.5million has been diverted to life-saving assistance inside Ukraine and in the neighbouring countries. A full breakdown can be found here.
Grants awarded include the provision of emergency trauma kits and high-quality ballistic vests and helmets to the Ukrainian Ministry of Health; the establishment of support services for highly vulnerable refugees (including people with disabilities) in Moldova; supporting locally led humanitarian action through Red Cross teams inside Ukraine; improving access to essential information; legal assistance and protection for refugees and internally displaced persons and the provision of core relief items such as food, blankets and shelter. Recipients of the grants have included UNHCR; the Red Cross; the UN's Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs; Humanity & Inclusion and Crown Agents.
Additional grants will be issued in the coming days.
JOA has also been playing a key coordinating role in translating the extraordinary generosity of Islander's who have donated much needed items to those fleeing the conflict.
JOA funds have helped facilitate the transportation of hundreds of pallets of goods from Jersey to Poland thanks to the remarkable efforts of the Honorary Polish Consul and local businesses.
In addition, Jersey's Health department have generously donated 200 brand new but spare Oxygen Concentrators left over from the Covid response. JOA has verified with our specialist logistics and procurement partners, Crown Agents that these items are required, and indeed Ukraine's Ministry of Health confirmed they are desperately needed. With JOA funding and the generous support of Jersey Post, Crown Agents will ensure they reach medical teams and hospitals inside Ukraine, including in the besieged cities where they are needed most to treat civilians being indiscriminately shelled by Russia.
Sanctions and economic measures
In accordance with our constitutional position, Jersey acts in line with the UK in the implementation of sanctions. Jersey fully supports, has implemented, and will continue to implement, all UK sanctions targeting Russia and Belarus. Jersey legislation gives force to these measures and provides for severe criminal consequences in the event they are deliberately evaded. Any links to sanctioned entities or suspected breaches must be reported to the appropriate authorities.
Where the UK takes further actions, beyond sanctions, we will give effect to the policy intention of all additional measures being introduced. The Government will not hesitate to take targeted measures to prevent Jersey services providers or structures being abused.
We have provided guidance to the financial services industry noting that, in the light of the substantially heightened risk, all relationships with Russian and Belarusian clients should be subject to a higher level of due diligence. This states that any new relationships with such clients should be discussed with the Jersey Financial Services Commission. We will keep this under constant review.
The Minister for External Relations and Financial Services has also established an operational taskforce so that key agencies, charged with tackling financial crime in Jersey, can work together to build an intelligence picture and better understand risk posed in Jersey. The taskforce is examining information relevant to Russian customers and assets held in Jersey, sharing information between agencies, and working jointly with UK and international authorities through existing formalised channels. Any links to sanctions or suspected criminality will be referred to law and regulatory enforcement agencies for consideration of investigation. This includes the ability to freeze assets found to be linked to sanctioned individuals.
Since the new sanctions package against Russia was introduced, at 28 March 2022, assets with a value of £259,300,000 have been reported as having been frozen by firms in compliance with their obligations under the Sanctions and Asset-Freezing (Jersey) Law 2019. This figure is rounded up to the nearest £100,000.
Jersey suspended all forms of tax cooperation with Russia on 17 March.
These actions underpin Jersey's commitment to support the people of Ukraine by imposing economic cost to Russia, alongside the international community.
Restriction of Jersey airspace
The Jersey Director of Civil Aviation issued a NOTAM on Saturday 26 February, on the direction of the Minister for External Relations and Financial Services, which has restricted Jersey airspace in alignment with the UK.
No aircraft owned, chartered or operated by anyone connected with Russia, or registered in Russia, can fly in Jersey airspace. This includes the airspace above Jersey's territorial sea.
Whilst there remains no currently identified and specific cyber-attack threat, we continue to prepare for the possibility that the situation in Ukraine could impact the Island's cyber security.
Guidance from the UK's National Cyber Security Centre has been made available to local businesses.
The Government has also utilised the existing Cyber Emergency Response team which includes the JFSC and key infrastructure providers which has been working with businesses to relay advice, best practice and provide emergency response.
A dedicated helpline has been set-up to plan and co-ordinate the support services available from the Government of Jersey. This helpline is staffed 8am to 6pm Monday to Friday, 10am to 4pm weekends.
The helpline can be reached on +44 (0)1534 441144 or contacted via email at ukraine@gov.je
The Ukrainian Support team is the central point of contact for all affected persons and is co-ordinating support once visas have been granted. This support includes initial health-checks through General Practitioners, as well as referrals to dentists and opticians where required. We are currently assessing suitable accommodation using Government of Jersey owned properties and the kind offers of self-contained units of accommodation from the general public. Islanders who kindly offered accommodation have been contacted. Offers of self-contained units are most suitable at this stage and all other offers will be kept under review.
The Children and Families hub are supporting families after their arrival this includes finding places within our Islands schools, this will support the feeling of being welcomed into the Jersey Community with a focus of the needs of the pupil being matched to the appropriate school environment. The hub and schools will also be able to facilitate any support the child or young person may need through school based ELSA's (Emotional Literacy Support Assistance) and Counsellors as a result of attending a new school in a new jurisdiction and any trauma they have experienced.