Tragedy Strikes at Manston Immigration Centre
A person housed at the Manston facility has died in hospital after falling ill. The Home Office expressed profound sadness over the death, stressing they take the safety of those in their care “extremely seriously.”
“A person staying at our Manston facility sadly died in hospital this morning after becoming ill,” the Home Office said in a statement. “We extend our heartfelt condolences to everyone who has been affected. A post-mortem examination will be performed, so further comment would be inappropriate at this time.”
Infection Scare Sparks Concern
Recent reports flagged serious infections at Manston, including diphtheria and scabies. However, the government insists these illnesses aren’t linked to the death. In response, officials announced a vaccination drive against diphtheria at the centre after several cases surfaced.
Manston Centre Under Fire After Terror Attack and Overcrowding
- Last month, a far-right extremist launched a petrol bomb attack on the Kent facility, injuring a staff member.
- Originally designed to hold 1,600 people for short stays, the centre swelled to over 4,000 migrants—including families—by the end of October.
- Frightening conditions emerged with reports of people forced to sleep on floors, confiscated belongings, and outbreaks of diseases like MRSA.
Migrants’ Harrowing Accounts and Government Backlash
Many migrants, including women and children from Syria, Afghanistan, and Iran, described Manston as “inhumane” and compared their treatment to that of “animals in a zoo.”
“We felt like prisoners,” said a young child at the centre. “Pregnant women were not cared for, and no one was allowed to leave.”
Government minister Grant Shapps warned the centre risked descending into illegal conditions. Following the damage control, some migrants were temporarily relocated to hotels—but confusion left some stranded at Victoria Station until charities stepped in.
The chaos stems from a huge backlog in asylum processing, blamed on outdated IT systems, high staff turnover, and low staffing levels. New Freedom of Information data reveals the wait for initial asylum decisions has quadrupled in five years.
Last month, Home Secretary Suella Braverman dubbed the UK’s asylum system “broken,” triggering fierce criticism from opposition parties.
