Bibby Stockholm migrants ‘suffering cold showers and poor Wi-fi’
MORE asylum seekers on the Bibby Stockholm Barge may harm themselves unless there are changes to the “prison-like” conditions, cold showers and unreliable Wi-fi, says the former roommate of an Albanian migrant suspected of taking his own life.
Yusuf Deen Kargbo, from Sierra Leone, claims the concerns of those on board are still not being dealt with after last month’s death of Leonard Farruku.
He said he knew of others struggling to cope and experiencing similar stress because of the confined conditions on the barge in Portland, Dorset.
Mr Farruku is suspected to have taken his life after complaining about his mental health the day before he died. He had been heard shouting and banging on the wall of his cabin, according to other migrants.
His death is being investigated by the police and coroner. The Home Office said it was a tragic incident and that there were “rigorous safeguarding processes in place” on the barge. His funeral was held in Albania yesterday.
Mr Kargbo told BBC News that those on the barge “don’t have any hope for their lives”, adding: “They’re saying this [Farruku’s death] is just the beginning... They are trying to give a warning that this place is not good for them. Every day their stress is increasing, getting worse.”
Mr Kargbo was moved to a hotel five days after Mr Farruku’s death but remains part of a messaging group with others on the Bibby Stockholm.
He said migrants had also complained the barge felt like a prison because of the security checks they had to undergo on re-entering. Mr Kargbo told BBC News he shared a room with Farruku for about 10 days before his death on Dec 12.
“Sometimes he would be sitting alone. He was a very quiet person. He liked to be by himself, sitting alone playing with his phone,” he said. He said that the 27-year-old did not seem unhappy, saying: “I heard him laughing on his phone, sometimes until 1am or 2am. I thought he was maybe watching a comedy video on his phone, having a fun time.”
Nr Farruku came to Britain in 2022 with the hope of finding a job after paying £3,500 for a Channel boat crossing. His prospects were looking up at the time of his death, as he had been registered to work in a shortage occupation for two years. However, his sister Jola Dushku, 33, who lives in Italy, said his mother died three years ago and it “turned him into a different person”.