A group of demonstrators organised a sit-in at the Office of Integration in Dublin this past Thursday afternoon, demanding measures be taken for the homeless asylum seekers. The demonstration took its initial course outside the authority’s office on Lower Baggot Street shortly past 1:30 pm, where a green tent was attached to an outdoor railing declaring, “We are not subhuman.”
A banner stating “Stop normalising institutional racism” was carried within the offices by around 12 protestors who had managed to gain entry a bit after 2:30 pm. When the reception staff requested they leave, the protesters resisted and begun their sit-in, which lasted beyond an hour and a half.
The aim of getting inside the offices was to deliver a letter directly to Integration Minister Roderic O’Gorman. This letter, composed by Róisín McAleer and Stephen Roche from Social Rights Ireland, outlined the perilous situation in which homeless asylum seekers find themselves. Social Rights Ireland is a group offering daily assistance to asylum seekers residing at the International Protection Office (IPO).
McAleer communicated her concern about the abandonment of asylum seekers to deteriorating conditions, leading her to fear that someone might actually perish in the streets. The letter elucidated that over 200 men are currently sleeping in the IPO’s surrounding streets, some of whom need immediate medical assistance. Rubbish, including human waste, is accumulating, posing a significant health threat to these vulnerable men, along with other city residents.
The letter was received about 90 minutes after the protestors entered the building by a department official, who reassured them that it would reach the minister. The office was subsequently sought for comment about the protest.
By Thursday afternoon, a minimum of 75 tents were pitched around the IPO, some bearing “Refugees welcome” signs, while others were simply covered with foil for warmth.
The Department of Integration disclosed on the 4th of December a significant deficiency in housing availability, unable to provide for every single male applicant seeking international protection. Moving forward three months, it was discovered that 1,159 out of the 1,632 applicants that had turned up since that date were not given State-sponsored housing.
However, accommodations were set up for 190 applicants identified as vulnerable after an initial assessment, and an additional 283 were provided with shelter as more spaces became available.
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