Huge rise in numbers of immigrants seeking help from charity

THE number of immigrants seeking help from a charity jumped by 120% in the last four months, new figures show.

The Immigrant Council of Ireland (ICI) said that 1,086 people contacted them between October 2002 and June 2003 an average of 135 people per month.

"In the last four months, between June and October, the number has shot up to 299 per month on average that's a monthly increase of 121.5%," said Sr Stanislaus Kennedy, ICI chairwoman.