Conditions at RAF Wethersfield, a former RAF base in Essex where hundreds of asylum seekers are housed, have reached a critical point, with reports emerging of desperate individuals attempting self-harm by setting fire to themselves.
The alarming situation has prompted campaigners to issue warnings, asserting that it’s “only a matter of time” before a tragedy occurs at the site, just days after a suspected suicide on the Bibby Stockholm asylum barge raised concerns about the mental health impacts of housing migrants in such facilities.
According to The Mirror, Campaigners, including the Helen Bamber Foundation and Humans for Rights Network, have jointly released a report detailing the distressing state of affairs at RAF Wethersfield.
The report highlights the dire conditions that residents face, describing it as an “open-prison camp” where individuals are subjected to what is characterized as inhumane treatment. Concerns about the well-being of residents, particularly the risk of suicide, are reportedly not being adequately addressed.
According to the joint report, clinicians have identified “intense desperation” among those living at the former RAF base. One resident expressed their anguish, stating, “I don’t think I can take it anymore, these conditions are not humane, they don’t care about us at all here. They treat us like animals left in a farm.” The report also reveals that a person had died onboard the Bibby Stockholm barge just days before in a suspected suicide, underscoring the urgent need for intervention.
More than 500 people, primarily from Afghanistan, Iran, and Eritrea, have been accommodated at RAF Wethersfield since it opened for asylum seekers in July 2023. The revelation that it is situated in the constituency of Home Secretary James Cleverly adds a layer of complexity to the situation. Cleverly had previously deemed the location “not appropriate” for asylum seekers due to its remote nature.
Campaigners argue that at least 11 children have been wrongly assessed as adults and placed at RAF Wethersfield by the Home Office. Maddie Harris, Director of Humans for Rights Network, accuses the government of “ghettoising” asylum seekers and warns, “It is only a matter of time before someone dies in Wethersfield.”
Despite not being legally detained, the presence of barbed wire and roadblocks around the base creates what the report describes as “detention-like settings.” Disturbingly, an asylum seeker who had been tortured by the Taliban reportedly experienced worsening flashbacks after being placed at RAF Wethersfield.
Refugee support charity Care4Calais has filed a High Court challenge regarding the use of RAF Wethersfield as asylum accommodation. The charity’s CEO, Steve Smith, emphasizes the importance of the legal challenge in ending what he deems a “systemic, unlawful process” and safeguarding lives.
In response, a Home Office spokesperson stated, “The welfare of individuals at the site is of the utmost priority,” asserting that residents have access to medical and mental health support. They also mentioned a 24/7 helpline provided by Migrant Help for raising concerns. As pressure mounts, the government faces calls for immediate action to address the disturbing conditions at RAF Wethersfield and ensure the well-being of those seeking asylum in the UK.
