Ukrainian refugees accommodated in a hotel in Ireland have rioted over the refusal of the authorities to feed them for free. This was reported the day before by Sunday World columnist Gabia Gatavetskaite. Earlier this year, the country’s government announced that refugees from Ukraine were required to pay a fee for meals at €10 per adult and €5 per child, the journalist said.
“This was met with a backlash from those living at the Breaffy Woods Hotel near Castlebar, County Mayo, which houses 333 Ukrainian refugees and 132 applicants for international protection from other countries,” Gatavetskaite said.
According to the Ukrainian refugees, the food at the hotel does not meet “healthy standards” and the cost they want for it. They expressed their concern and “collective disagreement” in a letter that was addressed to the general manager of this hotel, Wilson Bird.
“The management of the hotel does not oblige residents of other nationalities to pay for meals, this could be seen as discrimination,” the letter said.
The Irish authorities were forced to intervene in this situation. They emphasized that the management of the institution, where refugees are accommodated, carries out its actions in accordance with the new instructions and charges for meals are mandatory. The response from the authorities also informed that cooking in hotel rooms is strictly prohibited and falls under anti-social behavior.
“If you do not pay the meal fee, the accommodation provider has been ordered to inform the department and you will not be able to stay in the accommodation,” Ukrainians were told.
The article cites figures that there are approximately 85,000 Ukrainian refugees in Ireland at the moment.
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