The living conditions of asylum seekers aboard the Bibby Stockholm barge are causing growing concern as the Home Office has acknowledged that it has already cost taxpayers over £22 million.
Following the death of an unknown individual on Tuesday, refugees reported that the living conditions have worsened since approximately 300 individuals were relocated onto the barge.
The government revealed that the costs for “vessel accommodation services” pertaining to the barge located in Portland, Dorset, amounted to £22,450,772.
Assuming the barge can accommodate approximately 500 people and is utilized for a period of 18 months, the daily expense per resident would amount to £91.
Refugees interviewed by the Guardian expressed worry about the level of security measures on board, which include airport-style screenings and physical searches just to step outside for a smoke. They also reported a decline in the quality of food and limited resources for those at the back of the line.
One asylum seeker compared the boat to a prison and expressed that things are progressively getting worse.
The refugees expressed their sorrow for a man who is actually alive, when a different person’s name and photo were released by an organization, incorrectly identifying him as the deceased individual.
Another person seeking asylum expressed concern about worsening conditions and the possibility of their boat being taken to Rwanda.
According to sources from the Home Office, the name of the deceased individual cannot be disclosed at this time until specific protocols are adhered to. Asylum seekers on the barge have expressed frustration over the lack of clear information from the Home Office, leading to speculation.
One asylum seeker expressed their distress upon receiving information about the wrong man taking his own life. They are urging the Home Office to reveal the name of the correct individual. The asylum seekers as a whole are feeling deeply troubled and believe that the Home Office is trying to deceive them.
At first, the asylum seekers reported that they were only informed about an “unfortunate incident” following the man’s passing.
One individual seeking asylum expressed fear, stating that it is primarily caused by the secretive management of the barge and their attempts to come up with a convincing story for both the asylum seekers and the public.
The individuals seeking asylum on the boat kept up with updates about the vote in support of the new legislation in Rwanda on Tuesday evening.
“People are increasingly receiving negative news. They are fearful of being sent to Rwanda and are experiencing deep sadness. Tears are being shed and it feels like being trapped in a prison,” one individual expressed.
The price of the barge was outlined in a correspondence from Matthew Rycroft, the permanent secretary of the Home Office, to Diana Johnson, chair of the home affairs select committee.
During a committee meeting, she expressed shock that a cost-benefit analysis was not conducted when the contract was awarded, to immigration ministers.
The new legal migration minister, Tom Pursglove, informed her that the system was being “revised” and also stated, “This is certainly a more economical method of offering housing.”
In addition to compensation for offering lodging on the Bibby Stockholm, the government is also providing Dorset council with £3,500 for every bed that is being used on the ship, with a maximum capacity of 504 individuals.
According to Rycroft’s correspondence, only 1,182 individuals who came to the UK via small boats through the Channel have been repatriated since 2020. This number is significantly lower than the total of 111,800 arrivals during this time.
The majority of the returns consisted of individuals from Albania, a country that has a preexisting agreement with the UK. Only 420 people were returned to different countries within a span of three years.
In the meeting, it was acknowledged that 132 unaccompanied minors who had gone missing from Home Office housing are still unaccounted for. This number was previously 154 earlier this year.
There are concerns that ministers have not allocated sufficient resources towards locating children who have been trafficked from hotels.
Alison Thewliss, MP for the SNP, expressed to Pursglove that his performance was lacking if 132 out of 154 items were still unaccounted for. She also questioned his level of concern.
Pursglove stated that the suggestion was extremely unacceptable.
The committee was informed that out of the individuals who were reported missing, 103 have now reached adulthood and 29 are still under the age of 18.
Source: theguardian.com
