Dorset barge set to house asylum-seekers divides the public

In the eyes of many – including individuals assigned to live there – the barge is seen as a ‘jail’. This perspective is only amplified by the fact that those housed in Bibby Stockholm will be required to scan everything on their person in an airport-style security system whenever they want to leave.

Yesterday, fifteen asylum-seekers set foot on the barge for the first time. At least twenty more people refused to board the vessel, which government officials were sure to warn could result in the withdrawal of their housing assistance.

Members of two human rights groups – Stand Up to Racism and a group called ‘No To The Barge’ – stood together on the docks in protest and solidarity with the arrivals.

Both campaign groups have questioned the adequacy of living conditions in Bibby Stockholm, as well as whether its residents would have proper access to essential services.

They are concerned with the preservation of human dignity, arguing that using a barge as accommodation could amount to degrading treatment – ultimately violating the rights of those who most need protection.

Held in isolation, residents will be physically separated from wider communities, which could hinder their ability to integrate into society. It could also damage their likelihood of finding employment and access to legal aid and support networks.

Not to mention, the psychological impact of being housed on a barge could exacerbate feelings of vulnerability and anxiety that come with the trauma of fleeing conflict nations.

Some say Bibby Stockholm is a symbol of the lack of empathy and understanding that officials have for people fleeing danger in their home countries.

Rather than investing in temporary and isolated accommodation, they suggest fostering community-based programs that facilitate asylum seekers’ integration into society.

In response, the government has continued to assert that the barge is a temporary solution while longer-term strategies are put in place. But no matter how ‘ethical’ the government says Bibby Stockholm will be, the situation has drawn new attention to the government’s approach to immigration.

It has also renewed the conversation about the ethics of dealing with migrants. As the situation unfolds, it’s obvious that finding a balance between solving real-world issues while upholding ethical principles will continue to be a challenge.