Migrants held in the Manston processing center have asked for help via a message in a bottle thrown over the perimeter fence.
A young girl threw the bottle at an AP news agency photographer outside. It contained a letter claiming that there were pregnant women and sick inmates at Kent Institution.
The plea comes after hundreds of people were reportedly left site of disused airfield near Ramsgate amid concerns, it had become dangerously overcrowded.
The letter, written in broken English and addressed to “journalists, organisations, everyone” appeared to suggest that 50 families had been held in Manston for more than 30 days.
He said, “We’re in a tough life now…filling up like we’re in jail. [sic].
“Some of us are very sick…there are women who are pregnant, they don’t do anything for them [sic].
“We really need your help. Please help us.”
The letter claims there is a disabled child on the site, adding: “He’s really bad, they don’t even care about him.”
“It’s not easy for someone who has children… there are a lot of children that they shouldn’t be here. They should be in a school and not in prison,” he adds. he.
The letter went on to say: “our food is very bad, it makes us sick…we have no telephone, no money, no smoke [sic].”
Witnesses said they saw security guards at the site ushering people inside as members of the press passed along the fence.
The girl was among a group of children who broke through the security guards and ran to the fence to throw the bottle at the photographer.
The letter added: “We want to talk to you but they won’t even let us out.”
In an exclusive interview, Sky News has been told that some migrants inside Manston are threatening to harm themselves and go on a hunger strike to protest their detention.
Immigration Minister Robert Jenrick said on Tuesday that the number of immigrants had “dropped considerably”, and more are expected to be moved the next day.
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The situation had been described as a “violation of human conditions” with 4,000 people detained there compared to 1,600.
A Home Office spokesman said Manston had “resources and equipment” to process the migrants and alternative accommodation would be found for them “as soon as possible”.
The spokesperson warned anyone considering leaving a ‘safe country’ that ‘despite what they have been told, they will not be allowed to start a new life here’.
He added: “We urge anyone considering leaving a safe country and risking their lives at the hands of dastardly smugglers to seriously reconsider.”
The department said it provided for all basic needs of migrants arriving in the UK, that their safety and that of its staff was its top priority and that it was committed to protecting their wellbeing.
