MESSAGE FROM THE BARRACKS.

My name is Omar.

I lived in the barracks for two months.

Today I'm using Freedom from Torture's platform to speak to you directly about the crisis of the UK government’s prison camps for refugees.

Please share my message.
THREAD
1/

I come from a country that has continuous wars. So when I first arrived at the barracks and saw the fences, the metal gates and the security guards, I was shocked and afraid.

I never thought the hardest part of my journey would be when I arrived in the UK.

2/

While I was there, a man in my room caught Covid-19 symptoms.

He was coughing in the confined space where we were sleeping. He'd also lost his sense of taste and smell.

3/

The staff there just told us that he was fine and to “deal with it.” We called NHS 111 ourselves and they said that this guy needed to self-isolate for ten days.

I demanded management remove him from our room, which they did in the middle of the night.

4/

When I woke up, he was in the communal canteen eating breakfast. His things were also back in our room.

I was so angry. How can they treat people like this?

5/

I want you to take a moment to imagine how you would have felt in my situation?

Imagine seeing Covid break out while you live with 20+ other people in one room, with nothing but sheets separating the beds. (Pictures can show).

6/

Every single person in there has travelled thousands of kilometres and risked their lives to seek safety and peace.

Please sign Freedom from Torture's petition so that the government cannot ignore us any longer. https://action.freedomfromtorture.org/close-the-barracks?utm_campaign=21DC011&utm_source=ffttwitter&utm_medium=social?utm_content=omar

7/

Please tweet me your questions using #CloseTheBarracksAMA and I'll get back you between 1-2PM.

8/