Portland, Dorset 08 August 2023 (MoraVizen.com) – The initial cohort of asylum seekers designated to inhabit the Bibby Stockholm barge in Portland, Dorset, have now set foot onboard, marking a significant stride in the UK government’s novel approach to asylum accommodation.
On Monday morning, a fleet of buses arrived at Portland, accompanied by activists extending warm welcomes with expressive signs. Around 50 asylum seekers are projected to settle in on this maiden day.
The UK government has responded to the soaring expenses, amounting to £1.9 billion pounds last year, associated with housing asylum seekers in hotels by exploring alternatives such as barges and repurposed military bases.
This development unfolds amidst a backdrop of evolving immigration policies, coinciding with Rishi Sunak’s “small boats week,” during which the government aims to unveil a series of captivating announcements.
However, conflicting messages have cast a shadow of uncertainty over the government’s plans. While a Home Office minister initially hinted that up to 500 asylum seekers could occupy the barge by week’s end, subsequent clarifications from No. 10 Downing Street contradicted this statement. Likewise, the minister hinted at examining the feasibility of relocating asylum seekers to a UK territory in the South Atlantic, yet this proposition is not under active consideration according to Whitehall sources.
The Bibby Stockholm was anchored off the Dorset coastline nearly three weeks ago but remained unoccupied due to health and safety concerns.
Sarah Dines, the Minister for Safeguarding, spoke to BBC Radio 4’s Today program, indicating that though the initial asylum residents would be limited in number, their count could surge swiftly to reach the vessel’s capacity of approximately 500 individuals.
When asked about the possibility of accommodating the entire capacity by week’s end, Dines responded optimistically, stating, “Yes, quite possibly it will be 500. We are hoping.”
Dines reassured that the increment in occupants would be gradual, seeking to address concerns raised by the Fire Brigades Union, which described the vessel as a “deathtrap.”
A spokesperson for the Prime Minister emphasized the gradual approach, stating, “Numbers will increase over time as you would expect for any new asylum facility. My understanding is that the Bibby Stockholm has an upward capacity of 500. We are looking to [reach] that number over time – I don’t think we are aiming to do it by the weekend.”
Regarding the reports about sending asylum seekers to Ascension Island, Dines acknowledged that ministers were evaluating various possibilities, without confirming or dismissing specific speculations.
The government’s stance asserts that the barge offers better value for taxpayers and enhanced manageability for local communities, though this assertion has been met with skepticism from refugee charities. Local opposition has emerged due to concerns about the well-being of asylum seekers and potential strain on local services.
Care4Calais, a refugee charity, disclosed their intervention in preventing 20 individuals from being directed to the barge, with referrals continually arriving from hotels.
Steve Smith, CEO of Care4Calais, voiced concerns about housing vulnerable individuals on the Bibby Stockholm, stating, “To house any human being in a ‘quasi floating prison’ like the Bibby Stockholm is inhumane. To try and do so to this group of people is unbelievably cruel.”
Official figures indicate that more than 15,000 asylum seekers have reached the UK this year after crossing the Channel. A recent two-day period saw 339 individuals undertake the journey amid adverse weather conditions at sea, contributing to the provisional total of 15,071 for 2023.
Amnesty International UK condemned the use of the barge as asylum housing, expressing deep concern about the psychological impact on asylum seekers. Steve Valdez-Symonds, the charity’s refugee and migrant rights director, criticized the housing setup, likening it to “prison hulks from the Victorian era.”
While the government anticipates reduced costs by resorting to barges and repurposed military bases, this strategy has sparked intense debate, reflecting the complex and sensitive nature of asylum accommodation solutions.
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