Asylum seekers to run marathon in protest at €19.10 weekly allowance

FRUSTRATED asylum seekers struggling to survive on less than €20 a week will use the Dublin marathon to protest against their living conditions.

Refugees want their weekly allowances boosted to €60 from €19.10 for adults. Those with children get an additional €9.60 per child.

The paltry amounts, support groups argue, do not allow those waiting asylum application decisions any dignified life.

The Irish Refugee Council yesterday said the payment had not been changed since its introduction in 1999.

“It is the only social welfare payment not to have been increased in that time,” the council stated.

The body is seeking an increase for asylum seekers in December’s budget.

To highlight their grievances, 20 asylum seekers from 11 countries will run in Monday’s event.

The competitors are from Iraq, Iran, Somalia, Kurdistan, Ethiopia, Ghana, Burkina Faso, Eritrea, Congo-Brazzaville, Nigeria and Kuwait. They are travelling from a number of asylum centres around the country.

Showing their frustration they will participate wearing T-Shirts with the slogan “€19.10 a week for asylum seekers = not fair”.

Speaking ahead of the 26-mile run, Bahroz, a Kurdish asylum seeker living in Mosney’s accommodation centre in Meath, said: “Getting €19.10 a week means that I can’t visit my friends in Ireland and this makes me lonely.

Deo Ladislas Ndakengerwa, a campaign officer with the council who successfully claimed asylum status from Rwanda, described the difficulties in trying to get by on the refugee welfare. His only joy was being able to buy one newspaper a day when he was awaiting his application decision, as well as a razor for shaving. After that, he had no money left, not even enough for a cup of tea or a bus ride outside of his accommodation, he explained.

Under current laws, asylum seekers in Ireland are not allowed work and must live in direct provision accommodation centres, where they also receive meals.