A top humanitarian expert has questioned whether the ferry docked in Leith to house Ukrainians felling their wart-torn country is suitable.
Dr Jim Jarvie warned the vessel may fail to meet the basic international standards adopted by aid agencies to ensure people fleeing conflict are properly looked after. The cruise ship MS Victoria has has been chartered to accommodate Ukrainian refugees for up to six months in Leith.
The Scottish Express reports how the Scottish Government paused its super sponsor scheme for Ukrainians blaming a shortage of safe and suitable accommodation. A government spokesman assured the health and welfare of all displaced Ukrainians was its "absolute priority".
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Speaking to the Scottish Daily Mail, Dr Jarvie said: "This isn't a cruise ship day trip to Disneyland, this is a boat full of people who are probably traumatised from fleeing a war in their homeland. This is of vital importance not just to the hundreds of traumatised families arriving in Scotland or those already here that may be kicked out of their current temporary accommodation, but to the local community too.
"I've failed to get any assurances from the Scottish Government whether even basic standards will be in place. Their latest response is just vacuous. What are the standards it will use?" He explained that humanitarian agencies working after natural disasters or in war zones follow so-called Sphere guidelines, which set out the minimum expectation on water, food and health provisions and offer guidance for "how to reduce potential tensions" in communities.
It highlights that better access to local services for refugee sites than existing residents can often cause a conflict. Sturgeon has not publicly committed any extra financial help for public services to support the addition of hundreds, if not thousands, of additional people into the area.
Dr Jarvie added: "If we're having a sudden influx of up to 739 vulnerable families into the community, people must know what resources are being allocated for them, in a way that doesn't further reduce access for the local community. If people in Leith are struggling to get doctors' appointments, dentists' appointments, mental health treatment, and slots are going to refugees, that could create tension.
"It's important that refugees are made to feel welcome in Leith, but to do this the Government - or whoever is responsible - needs to inform people about what is being put into place. So far we've been met with silence, no engagement and no transparency."
The paper received no response from the Scottish Government on whether refugees on the MS Victoria would be fed on board, but received no response. Asked whether it would adhere to the Sphere standards - adopted by groups such as Oxfam and Save the Children - a spokesman said the health and welfare of all displaced Ukrainians was its "absolute priority".
The spokesman added: "We are communicating with key local stakeholders to set out plans for how the ship will be used. Guests will have access to appropriate support services."
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