Protest at UK asylum seeker barge over long wait time

London: Dozens of asylum seekers living on a barge in southern England staged a protest on Monday to urge the government to speed up asylum procedures...

London: Dozens of asylum seekers living on a barge in southern England staged a protest on Monday to urge the government to speed up asylum procedures, a charity said.

Between 60 to 100 residents of the government-leased Bibby Stockholm in Portland harbour withdrew from meals and organised a two-hour-long sit-in, according to group Stand up to Racism Dorset.

Some locals gathered outside to join the protest, carrying signs including "Life not Limbo" and "no to floating prison".

A Stand up to Racism Dorset spokesperson said almost all of the men on the barge had been waiting more than a year to know their outcomes, which was causing a "significant deterioration in their mental health".

"The continual 'not knowing' together with difficult barge living conditions is affecting some very badly," the spokesperson said.