Napier Barracks residents face tough living conditions

Riots over asylum seekers’ living conditions at Napier Barracks in Folkestone resulted in a fire break out last Friday afternoon. Residents of the ex-military base were told they would not be moved despite a Covid-19 outbreak on site. Campaigns for better conditions have been ongoing for months.

Fourteen people have been arrested as it is suspected the fire was started deliberately, but police say there have been no reported injuries. A total of 400 people are reportedly currently housed at the Folkestone Barracks.

The fire was declared a major incident with emergency services on scene. Owen Devlin, a member of the ambulance service said: “You could see the refugees were aggravated and aggressive towards the police and throwing things towards the fence.”

He added that you could tell people living there were suffering with mental health issues. Mr Devlin explained the ambulance crew were sitting with a man who was stressed about where he was living.

Many migrants have revealed the harsh realities of what it is like to live in these camps since the fire outbreak. A letter shared on behalf of the asylum seekers read: “I want to express my sadness and sorrow for what happened yesterday… This incident was not something we all wanted to happen… the majority of us are against violence as we have escaped it.” The letter also thanked the police and firefighters who helped keep everyone safe.

According to the asylum seekers and volunteers, heating has been off since Friday and drinking water had not been refilled, leaving those with Covid-19 living in freezing conditions and having to drink from the bathroom taps. The Home Office denied these allegations.

The Red Cross have been campaigning to ensure “people have a safe and secure place to live”. The charity works to help vulnerable people who have been forced to flee their home. They strive to help those who have been stuck in “inappropriate accommodation” and are currently urging the government to “find alternative, safe and more humane accommodation options.”