Life Inside the Crowded UK Home Office Asylum Camp Where 500 People Struggle Every Day

Zainab is an asylum seeker who had to leave his home after the Iraq War and the death of his mother. His journey took him across different parts of Asia and Europe until he reached Calais, where he hoped to find safety in the UK. To get there, he was put on a small boat to cross the English Channel. The trip was dangerous—he faced freezing temperatures and feared for his life. 

Now, he lives at RAF Wethersfield, an old military base that has been turned into a shelter for asylum seekers. More than 500 people are staying there. The Government opened this site in July 2023, even though they had promised to close it. Instead of shutting it down, they now plan to expand it to hold 800 people, as more asylum seekers arrive. 

The living conditions at the site are tough. Many people have to share small rooms, and some now sleep six in one space. There have been outbreaks of scabies and tuberculosis, and many residents say they do not get proper medical care. Some cannot even get the medicine they need. Tests have also found dangerous bacteria in the water supply. 

A group called Doctors of the World, which helps with health and human rights, has reported that 283 people at Wethersfield have harmed themselves or tried to take their own lives. The stress of poor living conditions, being isolated from society, and having no freedom has had a serious impact on their mental health. 

Asylum seekers at Wethersfield receive only a little over £8 a week to cover their expenses. This is far less than the £49 a week given to asylum seekers in other accommodations. With just £1.21 per day, most cannot afford to travel to the nearest town or pay for legal help with their asylum cases. 

A private company called Clearsprings runs the site. The company was given a £1 billion contract by the Home Office to house asylum seekers. Clearsprings also manages other places, such as Napier Barracks and RAF Scampton. The owner, Graham King, has made millions from these contracts and was recently listed among the richest people in the UK in *The Sunday Times Rich List*. 

Between 2016 and 2023, 73 asylum seekers died while staying at Clearsprings-run sites. In total, 180 people have died in accommodations provided by the Home Office during this period. 

Several human rights organizations, including Doctors of the World and Care4Calais, are calling for the Government to close Wethersfield. They say the conditions are inhumane and harmful, especially for people who have already suffered so much. 

The Home Office has responded by saying that asylum seekers at Wethersfield have access to welfare officers, medical care, and mental health support. However, people living there and organizations helping them argue that these services are not good enough. 

The Government’s decision to keep Wethersfield open has led to more criticism, as many fear that more asylum seekers will continue to suffer in these conditions.