THE Crediton for Ukraine Support Group has issued an urgent appeal for people able to host families from Ukraine in the Crediton area.

A spokesperson for the Group explained: “Friends and family of Ukrainian refugees already living in and around Crediton are now desperately looking for sanctuary in the area.

“Local residents who offered their homes to those fleeing the war earlier in the year are now appealing to others who might consider saving lives.

“It has been a humbling and incredibly rewarding experience to host our Ukrainian friends.

“We are specifically looking for hosts for a retired couple in their 70s.  Their daughter is already here and eager for her parents to leave terrible conditions.  As a fluent English speaker, she will support them.

“We are also looking for hosts for a woman with two teenage daughters who is keen to be reunited with her older parents who escaped from Southern Ukraine and the granddaughters would love to be with their much-loved grandparents.

“If you cannot host, we are also always looking for supporters so please make contact through: [email protected]  or feel free to come and meet us and our Ukrainian guests at our weekly drop in at Crediton Congregational Church on Mondays between 4pm and 6pm for an informal chat.”

She added: “Guests, hosts or supporters will be able to answer any question you may have about hosting and supporting.

“Local hosts are also supported by an extremely strong support network, CHAT, Mid Devon District and Devon County Councils. (Mid Devon has recently been one of the few authorities nationally to recognise the need to give enhanced payments to hosts).”

She continued: “We are currently experiencing extremely cold weather in Devon which, at times, seems almost unbearable.

“Thankfully we can look forward to warmer weather with improving conditions.

“However, millions of people in Ukraine are in a dire situation, not only facing missile attacks but extreme cold that will kill the elderly, infirm and children.

“Despite the heroic efforts of engineers, large parts of the country have been left without heat, clean water and power due to the continuing strikes by Russian military which have specifically targeted the country's energy infrastructure and the civilian population.

“Whilst many people stayed behind to care for relatives or just hoped to survive missile strikes, they are now desperate to escape the unliveable conditions that we cannot even imagine - power cuts lasting 20 hours a day, plummeting temperatures, food shortages, lack of medicine and destroyed homes.”

If you can help, please email: [email protected] .