'We are dying little by little': asylum seekers at mercy of Home Office hotel closures

The UK Home Office's decision to close hotels housing asylum seekers has led to legal action and severe hardship for those forced to move with just days' notice. Huda, a 41-year-old engineering graduate from Tunisia, had been living with her two children in a London hotel for six months when they were told to relocate within days as part of the government's pledge to move asylum seekers into military barracks or shared housing. Huda's 12-year-old daughter, who uses a wheelchair and has epilepsy and a heart condition, now sleeps on the floor in a cramped new room without cooking facilities. The family waited from 10am to 7pm for transport to the new hotel. Lawyers from Deighton Pierce Glynn have filed urgent legal proceedings, arguing the Home Office failed to assess individual vulnerabilities before mass evictions. Deputy High Court Judge John Halford ruled it is arguable that the home secretary did not consider the adequacy of the new accommodation. Another asylum seeker, Farhad, a victim of trafficking and torture, was given a Post-it note informing him of a move the next day with no reason. He said the Home Office ignores people's suffering and moved him away from his mental health treatment. A mother and her sons were moved 549 miles to Aberdeen two days before one son's vital A-level exam. Chloe White of Action for Refugees in Lewisham criticized the government for tearing families away from communities and support systems. A Home Office spokesperson stated that all hotels will be closed and work is underway to move asylum seekers to more suitable accommodation, with welfare remaining a priority.