Refugees consistently sick due to inadequate heating in tents

Frequently breaking heating systems in tented accommodation in Knockalisheen are leading to chest issues for many of the asylum seekers there. File picture: David Raleigh

Refugees and asylum seekers say that they are consistently sick due to insufficient and frequently breaking heating systems in tented accommodation in Knockalisheen, Co Clare.

The men, some already traumatized after fleeing war, were terrified as Storm Gerritt winds whipped around their tents in Co Clare on Wednesday night.

Omer Hayyatt, who was granted refugee status but couldn’t find accommodation, was moved to the tents last month.

“[Wednesday] night was very cold. There was too much wind. I felt the tent was going to fly off. People were very, very scared.

“It’s very hard here. I sick all the time.” 

Mr Hayyat, who is originally from Pakistan, was previously in a direct provision centre in Waterford and was working in a hotel. But he was moved to the tents after he was granted refugee status but could not find accommodation. 

Fiona McCaul of Doras migrant and refugee support group, said that the biggest issue was now insufficient heating in the tents.

There does not seem to be a long-term fix. A lot of the guys now have chest issues.

Another man who has been granted refugee status had to leave the Glenvera direct provision centre in Cork City but could not find accommodation so was moved to the tents at Knockalisheen in March.

George, whose name has been changed to protect his identity, has been looking for his own rental accommodation for three years. He was working in construction in Cork but had to leave his job to move to the tents in Co Clare.

“I’ve been here since March 8, the heating has not been good at all.

“Every one of us is sick because of the weather here. Infections in my lungs are not clearing, the doctor told me it was from the cold."

George, originally from Nigeria, said that he has been looking for his own accommodation since 2020, waiting in enormous queues to view rental apartments in Cork City and suburbs.

"There’s no house to move to. It’s a matter of no supply. I have a lot of Irish friends in Cork, they’re looking for a house too. We’re hopeless now. How are we going to get out of the tent?

"I have a girlfriend I was planning to marry, but she now says she's not able to, she can't live this life."

Despite intensive efforts to source emergency accommodation, the Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth said that it cannot currently provide accommodation to all international protection applicants (IPAs) due to the severe shortage.

As of December 10, there were 398 IPAs accommodated in tented solutions across three centres. There were 48 people accommodated in Knockalisheen. Some 61 Ukrainian refugees were in tented accommodation nationally.

“The tented structures being used are designed to cope with severe weather, including high winds and heavy rain,” a statement from the Department of Equality, Children, Disability, Integration and Youth said.

As of December 10, there were 398 IPAs accommodated in tented solutions across three centres. There were 48 people accommodated in Knockalisheen. File picture: David Raleigh

“The Department is always cognisant of the safety and security of residents, and routinely monitors weather conditions that may affect those who are temporarily residing in tented structures.” 

The most recent figures from the Department, released on Friday, show that 362 IPAs are currently homeless, awaiting any offer of State accommodation.

There were 474 eligible male IPAs who presented since December 4, and after a vulnerability triage, 53 were offered accommodation. Some 421 were receiving the weekly contingency payment of €113.80 in lieu of accommodation and 59 were subsequently offered accommodation.

Ireland is now accommodating approximately 100,000 people between those fleeing Ukraine and IPAs. This includes over 74,000 Ukrainian people who have sought accommodation from the State and almost 26,000 IPAs currently in International Protection Accommodation Service (IPAS) accommodation.