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Irish Mirror
Irish Mirror
National
Ciaran Bradley & Mostafa Darwish

A two-speed immigration system? Asylum seekers say they are being treated differently to Ukrainian arrivals

Asylum seekers in a Dublin hotel claim they are struggling with their living conditions and are being treated differently to arrivals from Ukraine.

An asylum seeker from North Africa told the Irish Mirror they have to sleep on the floor and chairs in the Citywest Hotel and that they are forced to wake at 7am.

The resident claimed arrivals from Ukraine are being treated in a different manner to those seeking asylum from other countries.

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''There are special dining rooms for Ukrainian refugees," Adel said. "[Ukrainians] are normally transferred within a couple of days, while we get transferred in around six weeks."

The Department of Integration said it is not in a position to comment on individual complaints.

A statement from the Department said: "[International Protection Accommodation Services (IPAS)] is always available to deal with any complaints from residents, and residents are encouraged to engage with IPAS if they are unhappy with any aspect of their accommodation.

"However, where a significant complaint or a resident is not comfortable raising a complaint with a centre manager."

The Irish Mirror contacted Citywest Hotel management for clarification but we have yet to receive a reply.

However, the Department of Integration confirmed there are two separate dining areas for temporary residents.

"One is for Citywest Hotel guests. The second is for those staying at the Ukrainian Transit Hub, both International Protection applicants and Beneficiaries of Temporary Protection."

The Movement of Asylum Seekers in Ireland (MASI) an Irish advocacy group for those seeking international protection in Ireland.

Co-founder of MASI, Lucky Khambule, spoke to us about the situations facing asylum seekers when they arrive in the country.

Mr Khambule claimed they have been addressing the chaotic situation in Citywest Hotel in Saggart, with regard to residents' issues and the wider context of asylum in Ireland.

''We approached the Department of International Protection [and] International Protection Accommodation Services (IPAS), whose response is only about the fact that the numbers are too high.

''But we are seeing it regardless of what the situation is. So the fundamental basic human rights in terms of giving that support in relation to the EU directive on reception conditions - that is, the government still has that obligation to make sure that people are treated with care."

Mr Khambule claimed there are people who would have been in the temporary accommodation for four weeks without adequate living conditions.

"No proper shower, no proper bed, no privacy, you can understand the day or two where a person is going to be moved.

"But when it is going to be long-term, it just shows that there is some relaxation from the people.

"As MASI, we are very, very concerned with the way that people are living there. We are in contact with residents on a continuous basis.

"We do get first-hand information about what is happening there, which is a shame that it is still going on like that.

"I am told that the first preference is for the people who are coming from Ukraine, in terms of getting a proper space."

Mr Khambule believes that the situation shows a racial bias when it comes to dealing with immigrants.

''That treatment meant that there was kind of a shift of attention to 'categorise' different kinds of refugees, that when they are coming from Ukraine and white, they get all the services that they get.

"Even those that are coming from Ukraine, if they are not white, they have been stuck to the International Protection application - [these are] the people that were in Ukraine who unfortunately did not 'look like' the people of Ukraine.''

The Department of Integration added that for both International Protection applicants and Beneficiaries of Temporary Protection, it is impossible to provide the current estimated waiting period as it depends on the accommodation availability.

Watch our special report into the situation at the top of this article

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