Surge in Chagos arrivals prompts row over housing costs

"The UK government is facing calls to support Chagos Islanders who need temporary housing after a surge of them arrived in the country to claim their right to British citizenship. Hillingdon Council said 152 Chagossians had arrived at Heathrow Airport in the borough this week so far, bringing the total to over 600 since last July. The Tory-run council says it expects to spend 2m this year on its legal duty to help homeless British-Chagossians, putting pressure on stretched housing resources and "breaking" its finances."

"Many of the Chagossians are coming from Mauritius because they say they feel unsafe there after the UK government agreed a deal to hand over the Chagos Islands to the country. The UK government said Chagossians were expected to make their own housing arrangements prior to travelling and argued the influx of arrivals was "completely unrelated" to the Chagos Islands deal with Mauritius."

"Then in November 2022, the government launched a new British nationality route which was widened to all individuals of Chagossian descent, living anywhere in the world, permitting them to be recognised as British citizens free of charge. Adults have five years, from 23 November 2022, to claim British nationality. Children born within the five-year application time have until they are 23 to apply."

Over 600 Chagossians have arrived in the UK since last July, with 152 landing at Heathrow in Hillingdon this week, creating urgent temporary housing needs. Hillingdon Council estimates around £2m in costs this year to fulfil its legal duty to homeless British-Chagossians and says pressures are stretching local housing resources. Many arrivals cite fears for safety in Mauritius after the UK agreed a deal transferring the Chagos Islands to Mauritius. A November 2022 nationality route allows all people of Chagossian descent to claim British citizenship free of charge, with adults given five years from 23 November 2022 to apply.

Read at www.bbc.com