A COLCHESTER resident is in a race against time to evacuate 167 children from war torn Ukraine.

Alex Ong, of Kingswood Heath, joined the Save A Child group in Poland a week ago and is urging the UK government to approve the childrens visas, or authorise a temporary waiver.

He has been in Poland now for a week but the children he is trying to help have been given a deadline of Wednesday to vacate their accommodation.

He urgently needs the UK Government to approve the children’s visas, or authorize a temporary waiver until they reach the UK.

The deputy prime minister of Ukraine has even written to the Minister for Refugees, Lord Harrington, to say they are aware of the charity Save a Child's mission since April.

Alex said: “Flights and accommodation have been paid for the 167 children.

"They are vulnerable children, some recently orphaned.

"We have had kids sleeping in a forest and boys who were captured by Russian soldiers. 

"The soldiers showed Ukranian bodies and told them ‘You have three minutes, if we see you in thee minutes we will shoot you'."

The hope was for the children to catch a plane to the UK on Wednesday.

The group has already been offered the Holiday Inn at Wirral when they arrive thanks to the Steve Morgan Foundation.

However, their evacuation has been tied up in red tape as some of the children do not have visas or other documentations.

Alex stated there was also an issue with the fact the UK government ‘did not want children without guardians in the UK’.

Gazette: (Left to right) Sasha, Vladik, Sergey, Kostya, Alex Ong, of Colchester, Artem and Max(Left to right) Sasha, Vladik, Sergey, Kostya, Alex Ong, of Colchester, Artem and Max

But Alex says while the orphaned children do not have parents, they do have guardians and sponsors.

After already having to cancel one flight, the delay is starting to take an effect on the morale of the group.

Alex said: “The little ones are easier to keep upbeat, you can play with them and take their mind elsewhere.

"The older ones are becoming more despondent and starting to wonder what’s going on.

“We are trying our best to keep morale up, but obviously the children want some security and to understand what’s going on.

“It’s mentally exhausting, your mind doesn’t stop.

"It’s ridiculous that we can be in this situation, especially after Boris Johnson released a letter to Ukrainian children, stating that the UK ‘hadn’t forgotten about them’, but that’s exactly is happening here.”

The Gazette contacted the Department for Immigration and Visas but it had not responded at the time of going to press.