Mail Online

As 20,000 more Ukrainians on way, new plea to take in a refugee

By Cameron Charters

A FRESH campaign is to be mounted to urge people to open their homes to refugees as the SNP-led Government struggles to find accommodation for 20,000 Ukrainians.

Figures show 33,900 visa applications have been granted by the Scottish Government to people fleeing the war-torn country. So far, 13,257 Ukrainians have arrived but a lack of housing, especially for those still to arrive, is proving a major issue.

The Government’s Super Sponsor Scheme – which was linked to the Homes for Ukraine plan that matched hosts with refugees – was paused to new visa applications last month due to the lack of available homes. In a bid to deal with the influx, Ministers awarded a contract worth up to £100 million to a private company to charter two ferries to provide temporary accommodation.

However, the MS Victoria docked in Leith, Edinburgh, and the MS Ambition, which is due to arrive in the Clyde next month, can only hold around 4,000 people between them, leaving the Government facing a challenge to house thousands more men, women and children who are expected to arrive in the coming months.

As a result, a new publicity drive will encourage Scots to offer refugees shelter in their homes.

A Government spokesman said: ‘We are keen to see more people in Scotland volunteer as hosts if they think they can provide a home for a displaced person or family and we will develop plans for a further campaign in coming weeks.’

Ministers also want to boost the system that pairs hosts with refugees. The spokesman added: ‘The Government is exploring all options to provide safe accommodation as part of its Warm Scottish Welcome to Ukrainians.

‘Action is also being taken to enhance the matching system to maximise the number of displaced people placed with volunteer hosts who have completed safeguarding checks to ensure accommodation is found as quickly as possible.’

Official figures issued last week show Scotland has been proportionally more generous in offering accommodation to Ukrainians than other parts of the UK.

England – with a population of 56 million – has issued 80,730 visas to Ukrainians while the figure for Wales – which has three million inhabitants – is 7,853. But Scotland – with a population of 5.5 million – has issued 33,900. Last night, opposition politicians accused the SNP of failing to organise housing before offering refuge to so many people.

Scottish Tory MSP Miles Briggs said: ‘The SNP clearly tried to run before they could walk when it came to their flagship Super Sponsor Scheme. At the heart of the failures are those brave individuals fleeing their homeland who have been left in limbo or housed in cramped accommodation on cruise ships.

‘The SNP need to take responsibility and urgently explain how they are going to find suitable accommodation for thousands of refugees as soon as possible.’

When asked if the Scottish Government had taken any action to stagger the arrival of the 20,000 Ukrainians still to come, a spokesman said: ‘Visas issued are valid for travel for six months. People will make their own informed decisions on travelling.’

‘The SNP tried to run before they could walk’

News

en-gb

2022-08-14T07:00:00.0000000Z

2022-08-14T07:00:00.0000000Z

https://mailonline.pressreader.com/article/282140705160313

dmg media (UK)