U.K. government's response to evacuation of asylum seekers after bacteria found on barge

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【Summary】The U.K. government denies allegations of being slow in evacuating asylum seekers from a barge after Legionnaire's disease bacteria were found in the ship's water system. Health officials claim the barge operator was informed earlier than the government, but the Health Secretary states that quick action was taken. The government's response to the bacteria issue comes amid a surge in migrants crossing the English Channel.

FutureCar Staff Aug 14, 2023 7:27 AM PT

U.K. government's response to evacuation of asylum seekers after bacteria found on barge

Britain's government has denied allegations that it was slow to evacuate asylum-seekers from a barge off the south coast of England after traces of Legionnaire's disease were found in the ship's water system. Local health officials claimed that the barge operator was informed about the bacteria last Monday, a day before the asylum-seekers were moved onto the Bibby Stockholm. However, Health Secretary Steve Barclay stated that ministers were only informed about the bacteria on Thursday and took immediate action. The Home Office moved all 39 men to alternative accommodation on Friday.

The government's response to the bacteria issue has come under scrutiny following a surge in migrants crossing the English Channel in small boats. Over the weekend, at least six people died when a boat sank off the coast of France, and more than 1,600 people arrived in England on 30 boats from August 10-12. Prime Minister Rishi Sunak has made stopping the boats a priority as he seeks to gain voter support for his Conservative Party ahead of next year's general election.

As part of this strategy, Sunak plans to relocate asylum-seekers from hotels to barges and disused military bases to discourage people from coming to the U.K. and reduce the cost of housing those seeking shelter. Sunak also aims to deport individuals who enter the country illegally to Rwanda, although this plan has faced legal challenges. The British government currently spends approximately £6 million ($7.6 million) per day on hotel rooms for 51,000 asylum-seekers. The number of asylum requests in Britain has risen significantly, reaching over 167,000 by the end of last year compared to about 45,000 in 2018, according to the UN refugee agency.

The government's ultimate goal is to house up to 500 adult men on the Bibby Stockholm. Legionnaires' disease is a severe respiratory infection caused by inhaling water droplets containing the bacteria. It is not transmitted from person to person but is commonly found in the cooling systems of large buildings and stagnant water lines. Although symptoms resemble those of the flu, Legionnaires' disease can be treated with antibiotics.

The controversy surrounding the bacteria is the latest setback for the plan to house asylum-seekers on the Bibby Stockholm. Fire officials previously expressed concerns about safety precautions on the barge, and migrant rights advocates questioned the appropriateness of accommodating people fleeing war and persecution in such cramped conditions.