Take action in solidarity with Yarl's Wood hunger strikers
Detainees at Yarl's Wood detention centre are on hunger strike to demand:
1) Relocate a 30 year old woman with epilepsy. She is not receiving medical attention and suffers from convulsions constantly. She is lying on the floor most of the time. The other inmates don’t help her as they do not want to make a fatal mistake.
2) Resolve the situation of a 5 months pregnant woman, who was arrested two months ago and who is extremely sick. She stays in bed all day and does not receive medical attention.
3) Resolve the situation of almost 20 children (between 5 months and 2 years old). They are with their mothers and able to play with other kids, but they are showing clear signs of tension, pressure, distress and anxiety. Some women have been detained for more than two months and the children can’t understand the situation.
4) Talk to the Immigration Officer, Sarah (no surname supplied), who must listen these requests. (Sarah’s name was suggested by the Serco’s manager).
5) Adequate access to health care, quality food and real privacy.
6) Restore the communications between Juliette Umoru and her husband Steve, who is not allowed to talk to her.
Show your solidarity with the strikers. Take 20 minutes to do the following:
* Contact SERCO (who run Yarl’s Wood) and demand that the strikers’ demands are met - (0)1344 386300 - homeaffairs@serco.com
* Contact Yarl’s Wood and demand that the strikers demands are met: The duty manager 01234 821517; The switchboard 01234 821000; Health'care' 01234 821147
* Contact Alaister Burt MP for Yarls Wood - burta@parliament.uk
* Forward this news to any email lists you are on or press contacts you have
* If you can donate towards credit for detainees’ mobiles or travel costs for solidarity visits, email feminist.fightback@gmail.com
NEWS REPORTS
Immigration centre detainees stage hunger strike over inadequate medical care
By Daily Mail Reporter, 16th June 2009
http://tinyurl.com/Yarl-sWood
[Detainees reports differ from article below, they are adamant that violence was used and two children got stepped on in the melee, known for definite that two males, two women and 2 children were removed from the wing, whereabouts not known!]
Hunger strike at immigrant centre
BBC News Wednesday 17th June
http://tinyurl.com/na6jyf
http://tinyurl.com/kvvh8v
A dramatic end to a week in Yarl's Wood
Mark Easton BBC News 13:31 PM, Friday, 19 June 2009
Understanding hunger strikes
Detainees refusing food, such as the asylum seekers at Yarl's Wood, have usually been denied justice. They need help
Frank Arnold, guardian.co.uk, Friday 19 June 2009
http://tinyurl.com/HungerStrikes
http://www.indymedia.org.uk/en/2009/06/432732.html
Protesters picket Serco in solidarity with Yarl's Wood hunger strikers
Serco mission statement for Yarl's Wood: "We are committed to caring for the detainees at Yarl's Wood with decency and respect, providing the dedicated facilities which children and families need. These include a nursery and classroom facilities for school-age children, with an outdoor play area with play equipment.We are committed to developing the centre into a recognised centre of excellence for detaining females and families in a safe and secure environment."