Controversy Surrounds Decision to Leave Asylum Seekers on Barge in Portland
After arriving this week at its destination, the barge Little Stockholm, which was carrying about 500 asylum seekers, the decision of the British authorities to leave them on board while she was anchored in the English Portland dock on the English Channel coast, caused untold controversy.
Strong Criticism from Human Rights Groups
The decision was met with strong criticism from human rights groups, who saw the move as cruel and infringing on the dignity of asylum seekers, as the UN High Commissioner for Refugees condemned the new rules, calling them a violation of international law and putting refugees in grave danger, according to a report by the French press agency.
This is not a “floating prison”!
The Interior Ministry has confirmed that the controversial barge intended to house illegal migrants is not a “floating prison”, stressing that asylum seekers who remain on board will retain some freedom of movement.
On Friday, journalists were shown a barge that includes rooms with bunk beds, common areas for watching TV, a gym and computers, on the condition that immigrant accommodation begins next week.
Protest Demonstrations and Government Response
Parallel to the docking of the barge, protest demonstrations were organized in Portland, and government plans to house immigrants in military bases or elsewhere were frowned upon by residents and local authorities in those areas, prompting the British government to break its silence.
And Housing Ministry spokeswoman Lian Balak stressed that the barge is “not a floating prison,” adding that people can move around as they please, but the authorities have a safe fence to prevent them from risking entering the port, noting that, according to her, it is necessary to ensure the safety of migrants.
He ruled out that the migrants would leave the place because their asylum applications would be considered.
She also explained that a team of 60 employees would be on site for maintenance and cooking, while the barge would be guarded by 18 security guards, for whom a bus was allocated to move to a neighboring city.
Migrants will be offered activities such as playing football or hiking around Dorset.
Conservative Prime Minister’s Stance
Remarkably, Conservative Prime Minister Rishi Sunak has made fighting illegal immigration a priority since taking office, in the name of pledges made during the UK’s exit from the European Union and in the face of increased cross-Channel arrivals.
Controversy Over the Use of the Barge
To reduce the cost of accommodation for asylum seekers, whose stay in hotels is currently paid by the government, it was decided to use a barge moored in the English port of Portland on the English Channel.
However, this move was met with very harsh criticism, which the British government tried to justify, especially since Germany and the Netherlands had previously used this barge to shelter the homeless and asylum seekers.
The British government is aiming to stem the flow of migrants with a new illegal immigration law passed on Thursday that would bar anyone arriving via the English Channel and other illegal routes from applying for asylum.
The law also provides for their transfer to other countries, such as Rwanda, but this element of the law is still the subject of legal disputes.
