HRW exposes 'dire' living conditions of asylum-seeking families in UK

By Al Mayadeen English
Source: Agencies
14 Sep 2023 09:28
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A recently released report by Human Rights Watch sheds light on the inadequate living conditions faced by families seeking asylum in the United Kingdom.

Migrants stuck at sea while crossing the English Channel but were intercepted by UK Border Force officials and taken into Dover (AFP)

Human Rights Watch stated on Thursday that families seeking asylum in the UK are facing inadequate living conditions in government-provided temporary housing. These conditions are negatively impacting their mental and physical health, not to mention their children's access to education.

HRW, in collaboration with the UK human rights group Just Fair, has released a new 100-page report based on joint research. The report reveals that these "dire" living conditions are a result of longstanding policy failures.

The rights organizations reported that they conducted interviews with over 50 asylum seekers, including 27 children, who either lived in temporary housing in England or had recently left such accommodations. According to the report, many of them stated they had spent months in temporary housing, despite the government's alleged target of relocating families to more stable accommodations within 19 days.

The report also pointed out that individuals placed in hotel accommodations faced significant habitability challenges, including limited space, dampness, mold, damaged or missing furniture, and pest infestations. Furthermore, families struggled to provide their children with adequate meals due to the lack of cooking facilities, and children encountered obstacles in accessing education because local schools often did not allow immediate enrollment.

"Inhumane and inadequate housing for people seeking safety is never acceptable, and certainly not in the world's sixth-largest economy," said Yasmine Ahmed, UK director at Human Rights Watch.

"Instead of recklessly wasting resources on grudging, deficient, and short-sighted responses, the UK government should redirect its funding toward suitable long-term housing and social support," she added.

Controversy and condemnation

The UK government is making efforts to reduce what it labels as "illegal" migration to the country, which is a highly contentious political issue. There is significant pressure to prevent migrants from undertaking dangerous Channel crossings in small boats.

To address this, the government has introduced controversial legislation that bars asylum claims from those arriving via the Channel and other "illegal routes". This legislation also mandates the transfer of these individuals to third countries, such as Rwanda. However, both of these policies are currently on hold due to a legal challenge regarding the legality of sending migrants to East Africa.

Additionally, the UK government aims to reduce the costs of hotel accommodations for asylum seekers and is exploring alternatives such as barges, disused military bases, and even tents. Notably, last month, the UK controversially began housing adult men on the "Bibby Stockholm" barge off the southwest English coast, but an embarrassing setback ensued when they had to remove them within days after Legionella bacteria was found in the onboard water supply.

The HRW's report comes shortly after reports of vulnerable children arriving in the UK via small boats being placed in an adult prison that houses a significant number of sex offenders. Instances have been noted in which unaccompanied children, many of whom appear to have been trafficked, are sent to HMP Elmley in Kent and placed among adult prisoners. The latest inspection of Elmley reveals that the section for foreign nationals also includes sex offenders.