In a scathing report, the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) has accused the Irish government of neglecting the housing crisis faced by asylum seekers, particularly in emergency accommodation centers. The UN agency is set to conduct a committee meeting today to discuss Ireland’s alleged non-compliance with the International Covenant on Economic, Social, and Cultural Rights.
The report reveals that over 17,000 applicants for international protection are living in emergency shelters across Ireland, prompting the UNHCR to call for extraordinary measures to address the dire situation. The agency demands an end to emergency accommodation, citing the plight of 900 newly arrived refugees who have yet to be provided with suitable living arrangements, some reportedly in substandard facilities.
Recommendations in the report include eliminating tented accommodation, ceasing the emergency accommodation system for children, and implementing national standards for all government-provided shelters. While acknowledging the challenges in securing appropriate housing for new arrivals, the UNHCR emphasizes Ireland’s legal and moral obligation to fulfill the basic needs of those seeking safety in the country.
The UNHCR commended the appointment of the Health Information and Quality Authority (HIQA) to monitor the quality of Direct Provision Centers, marking a potential step towards addressing the ongoing humanitarian crisis.