Ukrainian orphans rescued from warzone ‘have been learning English’ and are ‘patiently waiting’ to visit Harry Potter studios after arriving in the UK
- The 54 orphans landed at Heathrow on Wednesday before going on to Scotland
- They are now looking forward to visiting the Harry Potter studios in Watford
- Touching photos show them cheering and clapping after arriving in the UK
A group of 54 orphans evacuated from Ukraine to the UK this week have been learning English and are now looking forward to visiting the Harry Potter studios.
The children, including a one-year-old and a two-year-old, along with seven legal guardians, landed at Heathrow Airport on Wednesday before being taken to Scotland where they will be temporarily accommodated.
They were evacuated from Dnipro to Lviv in western Ukraine, before spending two weeks in Warsaw.
Finally flying to London on Wednesday, they arrived at their new home on the banks of Loch Lomond early yesterday morning.
Now, they are set to visit the Harry Potter studios in Watford. However, they will have to wait after their original visit was cancelled because an earlier flight was pushed back over paperwork problems.
The evacuation was organised by several groups, including the Dnipro Kids charity which was set-up by fans of Edinburgh football club Hibernian after they visited orphanages before their team played Dnipro FC in 2005.
The 54 Ukrainian orphans evacuated from Dnipro are pictured after arriving in Scotland yesterday
They were evacuated from Dnipro to Lviv in western Ukraine, before spending two weeks in Warsaw
One of the evacuated orphans with her luggage. They are now looking forward to visiting Harry Potter studios
None of the children had ever flown before with a carer saying that one girl, aged 12, was found crying in fear before the flight.
However, she was soon smiling and laughing, joining the other children in expressing their joy when the flight reached Heathrow.
Sally Becker, founder of Save A Child, one of the charities involved in the evacuation, was on the Boeing 787 with the children.
She said: ‘One boy nudged another and just said ‘wow’ when they first saw [the plane]. None of them had ever seen anything like it.
‘They must have felt so special and cared for and loved. The crew made such a fuss of the children on the plane.
‘Well, everybody was clapping. First of all they looked out the windows and they could see the lights.
‘And I was saying ‘It’s London’ It’s London!’ And they were just looking completely amazed because of course they’ve never flown before, and it really did look like jewels in the night.
‘And as it touched down they all started to clap. But not like people clap on an ordinary flight which sometimes happens, this was 61 of them all clapping and cheering, and they were so happy.’
Speaking to the Times after the flight, she added: ‘Their faces lit up every time they brought new treats and toys out for them.
‘They loved the plane, they couldn’t believe that they had it all to themselves. I’ve been flying for years and I’ve never had hospitality like that.’
The evacuation was organised by several groups, including the Dnipro Kids charity which was set-up by fans of Edinburgh football club Hibernian after they visited orphanages before their team played Dnipro FC in 2005
The group left Warsaw in Poland on Wednesday afternoon on a Virgin Atlantic flight after they were evacuated from Ukraine over a week ago
A Ukrainian orphan girl waves as her flight from Warsaw touches down at Heathrow last night
Scotland’s First Minister Nicola Sturgeon tweeted a message of welcome to the children, writing: ‘A warm welcome to Scotland @DniproKids – I know you’d all rather be at home in Ukraine but you’ll find love, care and support here for as long as you need it.’
Speaking about the arrival in London, Magen David Adom UK chief executive Daniel Burger said there was ‘total jubilation, celebration’ and described it as a ‘wonderful uplifting experience’.
He said: ‘It’s great. It was a really surreal, fabulous experience which I’m privileged to have been able to play a small part in today.’
Mr Burger said the children were given stuffed toys and goodie bags.
‘Save a Child and a number of other parties have made the most unbelievable effort in getting these children to safety.
‘When the call came in to try and help facilitate bringing them to the UK, we wanted to do whatever it took.
‘This mammoth operation has only been possible thanks to so many people’s generosity,’ he said.
None of the children had ever flown before with a carer saying that one girl, aged 12, was found crying in fear before the flight
Sally Becker, founder of Save A Child, one of the charities involved in the evacuation, was on the Boeing 787 with the children. She said: ‘One boy nudged another and just said ‘wow’ when they first saw [the plane]. None of them had ever seen anything like it’
Speaking about the arrival in London, Magen David Adom UK chief executive Daniel Burger said there was ‘total jubilation, celebration’ and described it as a ‘wonderful uplifting experience’
The fuel for the Virgin Atlantic flight was donated free of charge by Esso Petroleum, and the outward bound leg of the flight contained five tonnes of aid from Convoy of Hope
Ukrainian orphans wait for a flight to the United Kingdom at Chopin airport, in Warsaw, Poland
The operation, which was a combined effort from charities Magen David Adom UK, Save A Child and Dnipro Kids, saw children rescued from five orphanages in an evacuation dubbed ‘Project Light’
Shai Weiss, chief executive at Virgin Atlantic, said: ‘All of us at Virgin Atlantic will do whatever we can to support the innocent victims of war in Ukraine.
‘We commend our partners, MDA UK and Save A Child, for the incredible work they’ve undertaken in bringing these children to safety.
‘We will continue to look for ways to use the power of our people and planes to support the humanitarian relief effort in Ukraine and stand ready to act as opportunities arise.’
The fuel for the Virgin Atlantic flight was donated free of charge by Esso Petroleum, and the outward bound leg of the flight contained five tonnes of aid from Convoy of Hope.
Permission for the group to fly was granted by the Ukrainian and Polish governments.
Home Secretary Priti Patel tweeted about the group’s arrival, thanking her team at the Home Office, the Ukrainian and Polish authorities, the Scottish Government and Virgin Atlantic.
‘The care they will receive will go some way to heal their suffering,’ she said.
SNP Westminster Leader Ian Blackford MP said: ‘This is a deeply emotional moment for everyone involved as the Dnipro Kids finally arrive in Scotland, where they will be safe, secure and well looked-after.
‘As delighted as I am to see them reach sanctuary in Scotland, we all hope that this will be a temporary stay, and that peace will soon come to Ukraine so they can safely return as they wish.’
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