By Danica Kirka | Associated Press
LONDON — A small group of asylum-seekers has been relocated to a barge moored in southern England as the U.K. government aims to reduce the expenses of accommodating individuals seeking protection in the country, as reported by British news media on Monday.
The asylum-seekers were transferred to the Bibby Stockholm, a floating hostel that can house up to 500 men. They were moved from other locations around the country, with additional individuals expected to arrive later on Monday. This endeavor is part of the authorities’ effort to decrease the number of asylum-seekers residing in costly hotel rooms, which were requisitioned on an emergency basis due to the recent surge in arrivals.
Owned by UK-based Bibby Marine, the barge, known as the Bibby Stockholm, is typically utilized to offer temporary accommodation to workers when local lodging is unavailable. The barge has three floors with closely packed bedrooms resembling a college dormitory, albeit with simple furnishings. It also features a kitchen, dining area, common rooms, and laundry facilities.
The Bibby Stockholm is currently docked in Portland Port on England’s south coast, where some local residents have expressed opposition to the plan. Concerns revolve around the potential impact on the small surrounding community, which already faces a shortage of medical services and is connected to the mainland by a single road. Immigrants rights groups also disapprove, viewing the accommodation as inappropriate for asylum-seekers.
In an attempt to curb the high cost of housing migrants in hotels, which reached £1.9 billion ($2.4 billion) last year, the U.K. government is exploring the utilization of barges and former military bases as alternative accommodations.
Home Office Minister Sarah Dines stated in an interview with the BBC that individuals entering the U.K. via unauthorized means should be provided with “basic but proper accommodation” and warned that they “shouldn’t expect to stay in a four-star hotel.”