Ukrainians living in tents being subjected to anti-immigration abuse 

Tents outside the International Protection Office on Mount Street. Asylum seekers who have not been provided with accommodation have pitched their tents here in protest. Picture: Sasko Lazarov/RollingNews.ie

A group of homeless asylum seekers who are camping on a street in Dublin say they are being harassed by anti-immigration campaigners.

Up to 14 tents have been erected side by side outside the offices of the International Protection Accommodation Services on Mount Street — as the government struggles to find accommodation for refugees.

One Ukrainian asylum seeker living there said they are being subjected to a campaign of harassment by some people throughout the day.

“All day people are coming and telling us to go home, get out, leave, you should not be here," said Mykola Shvets.

“They speak about their own Irish people, they say ‘go home, leave’ and there is not room for the people like us.

“I come from Ukraine. The war is there, I come because I can’t fight I have this injury on my forehead. I am here now. I don’t want to be.

They tell us, some of the people, to go, get out and go home. 

“It is not nice. I don’t want to be here, I want to be at home. Right now I am sleeping here like this. I want a job and to live normal life."

Since November, a number of anti-immigration protests have taken place all over the country, as the housing crisis continues.

In February, the Policing Authority heard that the majority of the rallies were in Dublin. The protests have become smaller in recent weeks.

The latest figures show there are now 557 international protection applicants. All are single males.

Around 81,000 people have claimed temporary protection since the outbreak of the war.

Meanwhile, figures from the Department of Integration show the Government has been unable to house 582 International Protection applicants since May 5.

The department said: “We currently have six Ukrainian International Protection applicants unaccommodated. All are single males. Four arrived in March and two in April.

“These individuals applied for international protection.

“For a number of months, the department has been experiencing a severe shortage of accommodation. 

"It is challenging to source accommodation for international protection applicants, particularly single males. Any questions relating to the international protection process and the temporary protection directive should be directed to the Department of Justice."

A Garda spokesperson said local gardaí continue to engage with those residing in the vicinity of the premises at Mount Street, Dublin 2.

“In keeping with our mission statement of Keeping People Safe, members of An Garda Síochána regularly engage with homeless persons and rough sleepers, checking on their welfare and ensuring that they are in possession of relevant contact details for State and NGO welfare groups.

“An Garda Síochána has not recorded any complaints of the nature described in your enquiry, at this time," the spokesperson said.