2023-08-09 08:57:10
The Calaisian associations for aid to migrants speak of “an inhuman choice”. Despite the controversy, the barge opened and a first group of asylum seekers was welcomed on Monday.
She is moored in Portland, in the South West of England. Bibby Stockholmthat’s the name of this barge, “a floating prison” say its opponents. Objective: to house migrants there, rather than providing them with hotel rooms. A controversial project in the fight once morest immigration in the United Kingdom.
According to BBC, 15 people embarked at the start of the week. 20 other people refused to board.
The first occupants were expected in early August but its opening has been postponed. Several appeals had been filed by associations. Even the firefighters had expressed reservations regarding the security conditions. No surprise for Amélie Moyard, coordinator of Utopia 56: “this kind of boat is not made to accommodate people, it has already been tried elsewhere and it had to be closed for security problems, access to help“.
On board, 222 cabins, but the British authorities plan to accommodate up to 500 migrants. The NGO for the defense of migrants Care4Calais denounced a system “cruel” et “inhuman“. Utopia 56 even questions the legality of such a step because asylum seekers do not have to be locked up: “it is once morest the right of people to imprison them thereprotests Amélie Moyard, they have the right to housing and they also have the right to freedom of movement”.
The barge is 93 meters long by 27 wide and has 222 cabins • © BEN STANSALL / AFP
In Calais, most migrants waiting to cross the Channel are not informed of these new reception conditions in the United Kingdom. Above all, they repeat that England remains their last chance, that the barge will not change anything.
More than 45,000 people have made the crossing in 2022 and already nearly 15,000 this year. The UK asylum system is overwhelmed: at least 130,000 applications are pending, most for more than 6 months, according to the latest UK government figures.
A bankrupt system denounce the NGOs. For Utopia 56, the urgency is above all to close the barge. Amélie Moyard awaits feedback from the first residents:
video duration: 00h00mn26s
Amélie Moyard, coordinator of Utopia 56 • ©Marie Lebrun, Sergio Rosenstrauch / France TV
After Bibby Stockholm, the British government says it wants to open two more barges by the end of the year.
1691571844
#migrants #board #barge #Portland
