British charities and officials warn that the situation in an immigration processing centre in the UK is getting worse and urged British Prime Minister Rich Sunak to take action.
British Conservative MP Roger Gail said on Monday that the situation at the Manston Asylum Handling Centre "violated humanitarian conditions". Meanwhile, dozens of charities wrote to the Prime Minister, expressing concerns about "overcrowding."
Local MPs told Sky News that the Manston Immigration Centre, located in southeast England, currently houses about 4,000 people, including women and children, although it was originally planned to accommodate only 1,500 people.
"This is totally unacceptable," Gail said, who visited the former RAF base last week, though he added that staff "try to do their jobs when it is impossible."
Meanwhile, dozens of charities signed an open letter from the charity's "Housing Positive Action", raising concerns about "overcrowded and inhumane conditions" in the Manston Center.
Interior Ministry also confirmed that it is aware of the small number of diphtheria cases reported at the Manston Center: "The Interior Ministry provides 24/7 sanitation facilities in Manston, including trained medical staff and a doctor." Local police confirmed that about 700 people who crossed the English Channel were transferred to Manston on Sunday after a "burning device" was thrown at an immigration center in Dover on Sunday.
These warnings come as criticisms about Sura Braverman's re-appointment as Home Secretary continue. Braverman is known for her tough stance on immigration.
On Monday, more than 100 refugee charities wrote an open letter to Braverman urging her to resolve the so-called "backlog of asylum cases" and create a safe route for refugees to go to the UK.
The letter mentioned Braverman's remarks at the Conservative meeting earlier in October when she said it would be her "dream" to see the front page of the Telegraph showing a plane full of immigrants heading to Rwanda . "You're referring to the proud history of the country's provision of asylum. So we ask you to achieve this through a fair, kind, effective refugee system."
Brevorman called the illegal crossing of the English Channel an "invasion" in his defense of her immigration policy on Monday. Speaking to MPs in House of Commons , she said she had tried to prepare for the surge in Manston and denied allegations that she prevented immigrants from using hotels.
She said: “I foresaw Manston’s concerns in September and deployed additional resources and personnel to quickly increase emergency accommodation, what I refused to do is release thousands of people to the local community too early without the actual place of standing.” She added, “It would be the worst thing.”
