Joy as Ukrainian orphans arrive in Scotland
Businesses and charities combine to bring 54 children to safety in Scotland
Last updated 24th Mar 2022
Dozens of Ukrainian orphans have clapped and cheered as their plane touched down in the UK on the first stage of their journey to safety in Scotland.
The 54 orphanage children, including a one-year-old and a two-year-old, along with seven legal guardians, landed at Heathrow Airport on Wednesday night, before making a second flght to Edinburgh.
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".
Magen David Adom UK chief executive Daniel Burger told Cool FM: “
"There was the hugest round of applause as the plane landed which was as loud from the crew as it was from the children and everyone else."
"It hasn't sunk in yet that here I am sitting at Heathrow Airport and we landed these these children in London. It was such a priviledge to play a part in the first part of their journey to the UK.
The group left Warsaw in Poland on Wednesday afternoon on a Virgin Atlantic flight after they were evacuated from Ukraine over a week ago.
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"It's London!...they were so happy"
Sally Becker, founder of Save A Child, was on the plane and reflected on the moment the wheels made contact with the runway.
"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."
Ms Becker added: "The main thing is they're here, they have sanctuary, temporary sanctuary and they're safe.
"But thousands more left behind, I don't just mean necessarily orphans, although there are orphans, but ordinary children, children who are being shelled, who are being shot at, and I just hope that we'll be able to help a lot more children."
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Welcome to Scotland
First Minister Nicola Sturgeon tweeted a message of welcome to the children who are going to be staying intially at a centre in Callander in the Trossachs before moving to longer-term homes.
Plane donated free of charge
Daniel 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.
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.
Shai Weiss, CEO 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.