London, October 9, 2024 – The UK government has announced plans to relocate nearly 40 migrants who have been stranded for years on Diego Garcia, a secretive UK-US military island in the Indian Ocean. The migrants, primarily Tamils, have been offered a temporary move to Romania, with the possibility of relocating to the UK after six months.
The migrants, who first claimed asylum on Diego Garcia in 2021 after their boat encountered trouble, have been living in a camp guarded by private security. The UK government has faced criticism for the conditions in the camp, with reports of self-harm and suicide attempts among the detainees.
In addition to the offer to move to Romania, some migrants are being provided financial incentives to return to Sri Lanka, despite their fears of persecution. This move comes as the UK prepares to hand over sovereignty of the British Indian Ocean Territory, which includes Diego Garcia, to Mauritius, while retaining the military base on the island.
The situation has sparked a legal and humanitarian debate, with the UK government arguing that the refugee convention does not apply to the territory due to its unique constitutional status. The migrants’ future remains uncertain as they await decisions on their international protection claims.
