Refugees ‘in limbo’ as Leith ship has contract extended by five months

Ukrainian refugees will spend a further five months on a ship which has been accommodating them since June this year, the Scottish Government have confirmed.

The MS Victoria, which is dockedinleith,willcontinueto provide "safe accommodation fordisplacedpeople"untiljune 2023 with the option to extend.

Scottish Liberal Democrat leader Alex Cole-hamilton, however, accused the Scottish Government of "quietly" extending the contract.

Mr Cole-hamilton said last night: "This isn't a new life, it's a new limbo. Ukrainian refugees deserve a long-term solution.

"I spoke to aid workers in Lviv, connecting Ukrainian refugees fleeing to Scotland with homes and routes out of Ukraine, who have described the Scottish Government as being humiliatingly underprepared.

"They wanted the kudos of throwing open their doors but they did none of the groundwork.

"I don't think when these Ukrainiansarefleeingunimaginable atrocities at the hands of the Russians, I don't think they dreamed about a very crowded passenger ship."

Appropriate long-term accommodation is yet to be identified.

Minister with special responsibility for refugees from Ukraine Neil Gray said: "We do not want people to spend any longer than is absolutely necessary in temporary accommodation, however, we know from speaking to those on MS Victoria that it is a safe environment that has built a powerful sense of community.

"Workisunderwaytoincrease the availability of suitable longer-term accommodation. "