Asylum seeker due to return to Bibby Stockholm tells of fears of going back
An asylum seeker due to return to the Bibby Stockholm barge has spoken of his fears of going back on board.
The unnamed migrant is among dozens taken off the three-story vessel in August after deadly Legionella bacteria was found in the water supply. But the Home Office said the accommodation barge - which could hold up to 504 people - was now "safe and secure". The first migrants have been moved back to the controversial barge, which is moored off Portland in Dorset.
One asylum seeker told the BBC: “I lived there for five days and I have experience of living on the barge - that’s why I am not happy to go back.” The migrant pointed out that when he was aboard two months ago, just 35 people were on the vessel.
“Thinking of 400, 500 people on the barge is most difficult for all of us. We were just 35 and now it seems it will be 400, 500 people in a very small area,” he said. “If there is a single (act of) violence, a single disease (outbreak) then everyone will be affected.”
The Bibby Stockholm mega barge is moored off Portland, Dorset (Getty Images)Ahead of the migrants’ return, Bishop of Salisbury Stephen Lake published an open letter to the asylum seekers, saying: “On behalf of the Church of England parishes in this area, I welcome you. You have been in our prayers and will remain so. I know the churches of Weymouth and Portland will give you a warm welcome and do all they can, in partnership with others, to make your stay as humane as possible. Jesus was a refugee and received the care of others.
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"He also spoke about welcoming the stranger in our midst and loving one another. He washed the feet of others as the servant of all. We seek to bring this ministry to you.” He added: "I hope and pray that your stay among us will be safe, fair and result in a just outcome for your application for asylum.”
Care4Calais chief executive Steve Smith said: “The people who were on the barge during the Legionella outbreak have consistently told us that being on board was like being detained in a prison. They are accommodated behind high security fences, surrounded by security guards, and prevented from leaving on foot. By using accommodation like barges and barracks, the Government is stripping asylum seekers of their liberty.”
Migrant Help chief executive Caroline O’Connor said: “People who’ve sought sanctuary in the UK have often been through unimaginable trauma before they got here, and their vulnerabilities need to be taken into account. Their experiences on water and on boats come into play, because it could be re-traumatising to be placed in this environment. The most important factor should be the safety of these individuals, they must be treated with dignity and kindness.
“It’s important that people on the barge are able to maintain their independence and are able to come and go, to enter towns, to experience the local culture, to learn about life here. This will help them integrate in due course and will help them overcome what they've been through. It doesn't help a traumatised person to be isolated from the culture that they're trying to join.”
Several groups are planning to protest at the gates to the port today amid alarm over the Government's decision to stick asylum seekers on the mega barge to save cash on hotel bills. The barge is part of the Rishi Sunak's desperate plans to stem the flow of people crossing the Channel in small boats.
Nicola David, of the One Life To Live campaign, said that a letter signed by the 39 men who previously stayed on the barge described how they had found the Bibby Stockholm to be a "terrifying residence" like a prison and had left them feeling "stress and anxiety", with one of the asylum seekers having attempted suicide.
She said: "Nothing about the Bibby Stockholm has gone well - it wasn't even the Home Office's first or second choice of barge, so they had to settle for something 50 years old, rotten, and unfit for use. The barge had endless delays for repairs, Legionella, failed plumbing, and fire safety failure. I discovered that it costs more per head than hotels, not less, so the Government's strategy doesn't add up. And there are claims going through the High Court."
Last week, local councillor Carralyn Parkes, who is mayor of Portland, lost a High Court fight against Home Secretary Suella Braverman over the lawfulness of housing asylum seekers on the barge.
A Home Office spokesperson said: "From today, we are beginning to move people back on to the Bibby Stockholm in Portland. All necessary tests including health, fire and water checks have been completed, and are all satisfactory.
"The number of people on board will increase gradually with more arrivals in the coming days and months, as part of a carefully structured, phased approach. This is part of the government’s pledge to reduce the use of expensive hotels and bring forward alternative accommodation options which provide a more cost effective, sustainable and manageable system for the UK taxpayer and local communities.”
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