UK begins moving asylum seekers to residential barge on south coast
- The government says it wants to limit ‘pull’ factors attracting asylum seekers, with over 50,000 currently living in hotels
- On Monday some 50 male migrants were due to move to Bibby Stockholm, but plans to use barges and disused military sites have drawn protests
Britain began moving some migrants on to a large residential barge on its southern coast on Monday, as part of plans to use cheaper alternatives to hotels as temporary accommodation while asylum claims are processed.
The government says it wants to limit the “pull” factors attracting asylum seekers to Britain, where more than 50,000 are currently living in hotels after they made the final part of their journey in small dinghies across the Channel.
Plans to use barges and disused military sites have drawn protests from local communities, however, with some complaining over the possible impact to services and questioning whether the sites will become targets for protests.
Others have described the housing for people arriving from countries such as Iraq, Iran, Syria, Afghanistan or Albania as inhumane.
Sarah Dines, a minister at Britain’s interior ministry, told Sky News earlier on Monday that the barge formed part of a plan to increase the number of sites the government could use to house migrants, after the bill for hotels rose to £6 million (US$7.6 million) a day.
“What it sends is a forceful message that there will be proper accommodation but not luxurious,” she said.
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The government has said the Bibby Stockholm barge will only house single men and provide “basic and functional” accommodation, along with healthcare provision, catering facilities and onboard security.
On Monday, some 50 migrants were due to move to the vessel. A person familiar with the situation said they had started arriving around midday.
“The welfare of asylum seekers in our care is of the upmost importance,” a spokesperson for the interior ministry said.
“[We] continue to work closely with the local police and our partners on the ground to ensure the safety of any individuals housed on the site and the wider community.”
