My baby will be born in a month, in a war zone, and I could be stuck there for up to 16 weeks before the British Passport Office issue a passport, even though my husband and I are British citizens. Our baby is our biological embryo created during my treatment for breast cancer at 35 (BRCA 2).  Their claim to British citizenship is entirely legitimate by descent. The current situation is dire for many British parents who have chosen surrogacy in Ukraine, often due to the limited options available to those who find themselves suddenly infertile. Without the emergency travel document scheme, we face prolonged stays in an unstable region, putting our families, and tiny newborns at risk.

The previous emergency travel document scheme provided crucial support to families like ours, allowing us to quickly return home to safety with our babies. Becoming a parent for the first time is daunting enough, without having to confront the challenge with nightly drone attacks. We urge the government to reinstate this vital program immediately. There is simply no justification for leaving British citizens in an increasingly dangerous place for purely bureaucratic process.

Please sign this petition to help ensure the safety of newborns and their families by bringing back the emergency travel document scheme for British parents having babies through surrogacy in Ukraine.