Dozens of asylum seekers have been evacuated from a temporary accommodation barge off England’s south coast, after health authorities found traces of a deadly bacteria in the water on board.
Key points:
- Legionella bacteria can lead to Legionnaires’ disease, a deadly form of pneumonia
- Britain’s Home Office said the men had been removed as “a precaution”
- None of the 39 asylum seekers on board have displayed symptoms of Legionnaires’ disease
Earlier this week, the first refugees were moved from hotels in Dorset to the Bibby Stockholm, which is moored at Portland Port.
However, on Friday, the 39 men on board were evacuated after legionella bacteria was detected in the vessel’s water system.
In a statement the Home Office said testing indicated levels of the bacteria that required “further investigation”.
Legionella bacteria poses a risk to humans when it gets in to water supplies, particularly in things like air-conditioners and showers.
It can lead to Legionnaires’ disease, a deadly form of pneumonia.
In a statement, a spokesperson for Britain’s Home Office said the asylum seekers had been removed as “a precautionary measure”.
“No individuals on board have presented with symptoms of Legionnaires’, and asylum seekers are being provided with appropriate advice and support,” they said.
“The samples taken relate only to the water system on the vessel itself and therefore carry no direct risk indication for the wider community of Portland nor do they relate to fresh water entering the vessel.”
Spotlight on ‘small boats’
The Bibby Stockholm’s use as an accommodation barge for asylum seekers has sparked significant debate in UK this week.
The British government claims it is spending £6 million ($11.7 million) a day accommodating refugees in hotels while they wait for their asylum applications to be assessed.
It had hoped to send more than 500 single men to the Bibby Stockholm, which it touted as a more cost-effective form of temporary housing.
Refugee advocacy groups have criticised the plan as cruel and unnecessary.
Management onboard the barge is being handled by CTM, a global travel company with its headquarters in Australia.
In an August 8 statement, CTM Managing Director Jamie Pherous said: “Our role is to ensure that in a humanitarian crisis, asylum seekers have safe and clean accommodation while their asylum applications are processed.”
“All accommodation providers under the contract must meet a minimum humanitarian standard that is audited and approved by the UK Government, with culturally sensitive services provided to different cohorts of asylum seekers.”
Loading…
The British government has been toughening its rhetoric and policies in a bid to curb the number of people seeking asylum in the country.
It’s main focus is the rising number of people crossing the English Channel in “small boats”.
The UK began collecting data on “small boat” arrivals in 2018 and, so far this year, more than 14,700 refugees have been detected trying to cross the channel in that way.
Legionnaires’ disease does not spread from person to person.
The testing was carried out by the UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA).
The Home Office is now awaiting the results of follow up tests which have been carried out on the water system by Dorset Council Environmental Health officers.