Dozens of migrants living in “abhorrent” conditions on the Chagos Islands may now be offered the chance to be transferred to the UK following legal action.
Some 61 Tamil Sri Lankan asylum seekers, including 16 children, have been living on Diego Garcia – the largest of the islands in the Indian Ocean – since October 2021 after being rescued at sea by Royal Navy personnel.
In March, some of the migrants brought legal action against the Foreign Office, claiming there had been an “unlawful delay” in arranging their relocation to a safe third country.
The High Court in London was previously told that they had faced “inhumane” conditions on the island, including overcrowding and rat infestations.
Map: OpenStreetMap
In a letter on Monday, lawyers for the Foreign Office and the Home Office said there has been a “proposed change in policy” to allow families, children, and unaccompanied men who do not have criminal convictions or outstanding investigations the opportunity to transfer directly to the UK.
“… It is expected that a decision on offering entry to the UK in this way will be reached in the next 48 hours, upon which we will provide a further update,” the letter added.
Law firm Leigh Day said the migrants had been living “in tents on a fenced and guarded compound, conditions so abhorrent that there have been recurring attempts at suicide and self-harm”.
Diego Garcia, the largest island in the Chagos archipelago. Pic: Reuters
The Chagos Archipelago is part of the British Indian Island Territory (BIOT).
BIOT commissioner Paul Candler called conditions in the camp “dangerous and unsustainable” and children in particular were suffering from “immediate and ongoing harm”, Leigh Day said.
One of the commissioner’s medical team on the island described the camp as “in complete crisis”, the legal firm added.
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Leigh Day solicitor Tom Short said: “Our clients, including 16 children, welcome the home secretary’s belated decision to offer them safety in the UK.
“Our clients fled Sri Lanka seeking refuge from persecution. The treatment and unlawful detention they have endured at the hands of the British Indian Ocean Territory Administration for the past three years is disgraceful.
“Today’s decision is an enormous relief to our clients and we urge the home secretary to close the camp and bring our clients here without any further delay so that they can begin their recovery.”
It was announced last month that the UK had agreed to hand over the Chagos Islands to Mauritius.
Asked about Diego Garcia on Monday, the prime minister’s official spokesman called it a “deeply troubling situation”, saying it was never “a suitable long-term location” and discussions were ongoing.
Anyone feeling emotionally distressed or suicidal can call Samaritans for help on 116 123 or email jo@samaritans.org in the UK. In the US, call the Samaritans branch in your area or 1 (800) 273-TALK.