The United Kingdom has announced a decision on Tamilsky migrants stuck on the island of Diego-Harcia in the Indian Ocean. The government of the country offered this group of migrants the opportunity to temporarily move to Romania. This decision was the result of an agreement between the UN and the British government.
The UN and the United Kingdom have reached an agreement on the temporary resettlement of Tamilsky migrants from Diego-Garcia to Romania. Migrant's proposal was made by British officials on the island on Tuesday. Migrants whose statements for providing international protection have been approved as well as families with children who are in a camp on Diego-Harcia Island will be offered a transfer for six months to the Center for Safe Asylum in Romania under the UN control.
A group of migrants, which is mostly made of Tamil Sri Lanka, arrived on the island of Diego-Harcia in 2021 after their boat was damaged. Since then, they have been held on the island until they ask for asylum.
The Chogos Archipelago, which also includes the island of Diego-Harcia, was recently returned to Mauritius. The exception is the considered island, which is an important military base for the UK plans and the US.
Tamils stated that they had fled from persecution and tried to score to Canada in search of a shelter when their boat was in trouble and was rescued by the royal fleet. Their statements were supported by cards, diary entries and GPS data on board. Since then, the Tamil families have been in isolation, and an intensive process of finding ways to resolve the situation has begun between the two sides.
The proposal to move to Romania is also offered by eight migrants who are currently in Rwanda.
One man who is now in Rwanda and who was offered to move to Romania described it as "great relief." Another migrant said it was "the happiest day in the last three years", reports the publication.
