{"id":868204,"date":"2022-11-03T16:46:48","date_gmt":"2022-11-03T16:46:48","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.thecanary.co\/?p=1629083"},"modified":"2022-11-03T16:46:48","modified_gmt":"2022-11-03T16:46:48","slug":"migrant-solidarity-groups-are-protesting-against-inhumane-conditions-in-manston-detention-centre","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/radiofree.asia\/2022\/11\/03\/migrant-solidarity-groups-are-protesting-against-inhumane-conditions-in-manston-detention-centre\/","title":{"rendered":"Migrant solidarity groups are protesting against inhumane conditions in Manston detention centre"},"content":{"rendered":"
<\/div>

People are sharing harrowing reports of overcrowded, unsafe and inhumane conditions inside Manston detention centre<\/a> in Kent. Migrant solidarity groups are organising<\/a> protests<\/a> in support of detainees which are due to take place on Sunday 6 November.<\/p>\n

Inhumane conditions inside Manston<\/h2>\n

On 31 November, MPs questioned home secretary Suella Braverman on whether she ignored legal advice<\/a> and refused hotel bookings for migrants in Manston. The Home Office built the detention centre<\/a> on a former military base in Kent. According to Morning Star<\/em> reporter Bethany Rielly, the Home Office has instituted a\u00a0military presence<\/a> on site.<\/p>\n

The Home Office is only supposed to hold people on the site for up to 24 hours. However, a prison watchdog<\/a> warned that authorities are detaining people on the site for a much longer period, without beds, proper healthcare, or access to fresh air and exercise. The watchdog noted reports of cases of contagious diseases such as scabies, diphtheria and MRSA within the centre.<\/p>\n

Grassroots migrant solidarity group SOAS Detainee Support<\/a> visited the site on 31 October and reported witnessing “inhumane and overcrowded conditions”. Indeed, the site is dramatically over capacity. According to SOAS Detainee Support, Manston is\u00a0hosting over 4,000 people, including children. However, it only has capacity for 1,000 people.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

The group witnessed families sleeping on the floor for weeks on end and children crying for help. And although it’s unlawful<\/a> for authorities to confiscate asylum-seekers’ phones, \u00a0SOAS Detainee Support<\/a> says that authorities have confiscated the mobile phones of detainees and denied them access to lawyers.<\/p>\n

Sharing images and footage of the site visit, SOAS Detainee Support tweeted:<\/p>\n

<\/p>\n

\n

Through one of the gated entrances to the camp, we saw a father walking around with his faughter inside a cage, unable to leave. <\/p>\n

And we saw piles of blue bags containing the belongings confiscated from the detained people upon arrival. pic.twitter.com\/ImcDX55nwL<\/a><\/p>\n

— SOAS Detainee Support (SDS) (@sdetsup) October 31, 2022<\/a><\/p><\/blockquote>\n