SNP under attack over cramped ferry for Ukraine families
Humanitarian expert fears vessel may not meet basic international standards for people fleeing warzone
NICOLA Sturgeon’s government last night faced fresh concerns over its plans to house hundreds of Ukrainian refugees on a ferry.
Humanitarian expert Dr Jim Jarvie warned that the cramped Estonian vessel may not even meet basic international standards, used to ensure dignity for people fleeing war.
He has also warned that the SNP Government’s failure to consult Edinburgh residents about the plan, and a lack of extra support for public services in the area, may create ‘tensions and animosity’ between refugees and local people.
Dr Jarvie, who has worked in refugee camps in war-torn countries and disaster zones throughout Africa and Asia, said efforts to gain assurances had so far met a ‘vacuous’ response.
He added: ‘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.’
SNP ministers have chartered the MS Victoria for six months to accommodate Ukraine refugees in the Port of Leith.
A ‘super sponsor’ scheme to welcome Ukrainians was paused by the Scottish Government last week, blaming a shortage of safe and suitable accommodation.
Dr Jarvie urged the SNP to commit to providing basic and internationally recognised standards on the chartered ferry. He said: ‘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?’
Dr Jarvie said humanitarian agencies working in warzones or after natural disasters follow ‘Sphere’ guidelines, which set out minimum expectations on health, water and food provision, and offer guidance for ‘how to reduce potential tension’ in communities.
They highlight that if people in refugee sites have better access to local services than existing residents, it can often cause conflict.
The Scottish Government has not publicly committed to any extra financial help for public services to support the addition of hundreds, if not thousands, of additional people into the area.
Dr Jarvie, who helped with emergency responses and refugee camps after the 2004 Asian tsunami and Haiti earthquakes, said: ‘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 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 Mail asked the Scottish Government 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.’