A group of Tamil asylum seekers, including twelve children, have recently been transferred from Diego Garcia to the UK after suffering unimaginable hardships. They urgently need your help.
The group left India by boat on 23 September 2021 with the intention of travelling to Canada, fleeing persecution, violence and the risk of torture. Their vessel fell into distress at sea near the militarised island of Diego Garcia in the Chagos Archipelago on 3 October 2021. The group were escorted by the Royal Navy to Diego Garcia, where they claimed asylum.
Upon their arrival in Diego Garcia, the group were detained in tented accommodation in an encampment the size of a football pitch. Here, they remained detained behind a fence for over three years in squalid conditions. The tents were small, damp and infested with rats. The group was under 24/7 watch by guards from a private security firm with regular patrols from Police Officers. All entry and exit points to the camp were guarded.
The UNHCR conducted a monitoring visit to Diego Garcia in November 2023. They described how the conditions failed to provide the necessary standards of privacy, safety and dignity. The UNHCR believed the conditions were contributing to high levels of distress and mental ill-health, and they expressed concern at the significant risk of suicide and attempted suicide and further risk of self-harm. Several individuals made suicide attempts of such severity that they were evacuated to Rwanda for emergency medical treatment.
Between 2-3 December 2024, the group were flown to the UK after the Government finally accepted that the situation was unsustainable. The group are now very relieved to be in the UK, but they have arrived with very little and need your help.
Tamil Solidarity are raising funds to support members of the group. Your donations will help provide essentials as they seek to rebuild their lives in safety.
Learn more about the group’s journey and the challenges they have faced here: https://www.leighday.co.uk/news/news/2024-news/tamil-asylum-seekers-arrive-in-uk-after-three-years-stranded-on-diego-garcia/