Asylum hunger strikers get fluids

Yarl's Wood was built to house up to 405 detainees

Two women asylum-seekers who were on hunger strike at Yarl's Wood detention centre, Bedfordshire, are in hospital.

Sophie Odogo and Enid Ruhango have been protesting with other Ugandan women against plans for their removal from the UK and conditions at the centre.

They went to Bedford Hospital on Sunday and have been given fluids to "build up their strength", a spokesman said.

The Home Office would not comment on individual cases, but said applications are considered on their own merit.

'Weak' condition

Some detainees at Yarl's Wood began to refuse food at the end of July.

Ms Odogo and Ruhango are expected to be released from hospital at the beginning of next week, the hospital spokesman said.

He described their condition as "very weak".

They are protesting against their own removal from the UK, their view of conditions at Yarl's Wood, medical care, legal aid and the fact that they are at the centre.

We are just innocent people who didn't commit any crime. We should be treated like other people Salima Sekindi Yarl's Wood

One of the protesters, Salima Sekindi, has been in the UK since 2000 but is due to be returned to Uganda on September 13 as her asylum application has been refused.

She says she was raped and tortured in Uganda and fears further harm if she returns.

"We want people to know about the conditions we are facing in Yarl's Wood, the way we are detained," she said.

"We are not supposed to be in detention because we are just innocent people who didn't commit any crime. We should be treated like other people.

"I was raped and tortured in my country. I fear going back because it is a critical time, where elections are being held. We face torture.

"We've been trying to explain (that) to the Home Office. But it is turning a deaf ear."

Regular monitoring

A Home Office spokeswoman said it was unable to comment on individual cases.

But it took any allegation of inappropriate medical care very seriously and "rebutted" it "robustly". Those who refuse food are monitored regularly and health concerns are acted upon, she added.

"All complaints are taken seriously and fully investigated," she said.

This isn't a quick perfunctory process by any means Home Office spokeswoman

She said detention was an essential part of protecting immigration controls and is appropriate under some circumstances including if a person is deemed likely to abscond.

"All asylum applications are considered individually on their merits by skilled case workers," she said.

"The government will grant asylum to those with a well-founded fear of persecution under the terms of the 1951 Geneva Convention.

"If an application is refused, applicants have the right of appeal before an independent adjudicator.

"People are removed only if all appeals have been heard and dismissed.

"There is free legal advice available to everybody that claims asylum at all points of the process."

"This isn't a quick perfunctory process by any means."