A resident of a direct provision centre who has gone on hunger strike says the residents have been "traumatised" by an outbreak of COVID-19.
There have been more than 20 confirmed cases of the virus at the former Skellig Star Hotel in Cahersiveen, Co Kerry.
Around 30 of the residents have now decided to go on hunger strike in a bid to be moved from the centre, saying their current accommodation is 'not suitable'.
Solidarity with asylum seekers who resolved to go on a hunger strike. They have, on numerous occasions, raised their concerns with @DeptJusticeIRL and they are ignored. There is nothing in the town for them. pic.twitter.com/UHZJffLVAo
— MASI - Movement of Asylum Seekers in Ireland (@masi_asylum) July 28, 2020
One resident - who is from Sri Lanka - explained that only child residents and those on medication are not fasting.
He explained: "We want to recover from this.
"What we have gone through is a very hard time - we are traumatised mentally and psychologically.
"We need to be moved to a place where we can have access to a social worker, medical facilities, and cooking facilities for our own selves."
He said they've decided on the action of a hunger strike so authorities will "understand how important this request is".
Lucky Khambule from the Movement of Asylum Seekers in Ireland (MASI) said it's a shame people have been pushed to these extremes.
He observed: "[Residents] feel they are not being taken seriously, not being listened to, and no action is being done.
"All they get is letters and letters - they don't get any action. They just want to be out of there: that's all they want."
In a statement, the Department of Justice says it takes the concerns of residents very seriously.
They said: "Officials from the Department of Justice and Equality have been onsite in the centre in Cahersiveen today to see the situation first-hand and to hear the concerns of residents directly.
"They have also been tasked with examining issues raised around provision of meals and any issues arising following the boil water notice currently in place in the town. Any outstanding issues will be followed up for resolution as a matter of priority."
