- The UNHCR has deemed Diego Garcia, a British territory in the Indian Ocean.
- Dozens of Sri Lankan Tamils were stranded for over two years,
- The UK government is seeking a ‘long-term solution’ for migrants.
The United Nations refugee agency has declared that a remote British territory in the Indian Ocean, housing a secretive UK-US military base, is “unsuitable” for the long-term detention of migrants, following rare access granted. Dozens of Sri Lankan Tamils, stranded for over two years in a makeshift camp on Diego Garcia, have filed asylum claims in the territory for the first time.
The UK government, seeking a ‘long-term solution,’ asserted that the well-being and safety of migrants are the top priorities for the British Indian Ocean Territory administration.
UNHCR representatives, facilitated by UK authorities, visited Diego Garcia in late 2023, marking the first access since the migrants’ arrival more than two years ago. The UN agency is now ‘following up’ with officials regarding its findings.
“Diego Garcia is an island hosting a military base with virtually no civilian population, and is not a suitable location for long-term residence for this group,” a spokesperson said in a brief statement.
“We continue to call on the UK to ensure fair and efficient determination of the pending claims, and to secure solutions for those that require international protection, in line with international law.”
In October 2021, the first group of Tamils landed on Diego Garcia after their boat encountered trouble while attempting to sail to Canada, as reported by migrants and officials.
The island, situated hundreds of miles from any other population, strictly prohibits unauthorized visitors.
The group, asserting asylum claims, marked the inaugural instances on Biot – an area characterized as ‘constitutionally distinct and separate from the UK,’ where court documents state that the Refugee Convention does not apply.
Many individuals in the group assert affiliations with the former Tamil Tiger rebels in Sri Lanka, who faced defeat in the civil war concluding in 2009, contending that they have experienced persecution as a result.
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