Asylum seekers are paying thousands of euros to enter Ireland via cruise ships ... trends now
Undocumented asylum seekers are paying thousands of euros to enter the country via cruise ships from the UK, according to some of the new arrivals living in tents on the Grand Canal in Dublin.
There were a total of 85 tents lined up between Mount Street Bridge and Huband Bridge yesterday afternoon – a figure that has doubled in less than a week.
And one man from Egypt told the Irish Daily Mail that he feels safer here as 'in England they will send him to Rwanda'.
While some of the homeless asylum seekers came from the former encampment outside the International Protection Office (IPO) on nearby Mount Street, others arrived in Ireland just days ago from the UK.
Taoiseach Simon Harris yesterday vowed that the encampment would not be allowed to remain in place for 'weeks and weeks'.
Reda Alsaba from Egypt is just one of the refugees living in a tent on the Grand Canal
Abdul Rashid, 28, from Afghanistan, told the Mail that crossing the Irish Sea into Dublin was very straightforward as he did not need a passport.
He said he did not board a traditional ferry but paid approximately €2,000 for a cruise ship ticket.
'I got a very big boat to Ireland only yesterday – it was like a hotel and they gave us food and everything,' he said.
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'I didn't need a passport because they only checked for tickets. This was my only option. We weren't stopped coming off the boat and just walked off.'
Mr Rashid said he was forced to flee his home country when the Taliban took control.
'I came from a very happy family with no problems until the Taliban came. My father was killed and the rest of my relatives had to leave their homes.
'I paid €7,000 to get to France and had to cross six different countries to get there.
'I spent 15 months in France, but they didn't accept my papers so I had no other choice but to travel to the UK.'
The young man spent £1,700 (€1,977) to make the perilous journey across the English Channel on an inflatable dingy with around 55 people.
'It was very dangerous and there were many families with children,' he said.
But it was when he learned about the threat of being sent to Rwanda that Mr Rashid decided to try Ireland.
'My hope is to finally settle down in Ireland and get my life back to normal. I would like to ensure my family's safety in Afghanistan and then continue my education here,' he said.
Khyber Ghurzng, 27, also from Afghanistan, said he arrived on the same ship as his friend Abdul.
'We bought tickets but didn't need passports,' he said, before implying that they needed to be evasive to avoid being asked for them.
Olivia Headon, who is helping refugees on the banks of the Grand Canal
'It cost €2,000 to come here. It was expensive but we didn't have a choice, there was no other way.
'I'm here now and I'm still questioning how I'm alive. Crossing the sea into the UK was so dangerous that I accepted death.
'The boat we were on started to sink and water was coming past our legs, but thankfully the British coast guard came to rescue us'.
Mr Ghurzng said he's very appreciative for the help he's received in Ireland, despite not being provided with State accommodation.
'I'm in a tent now but at least I'm with other people and getting help from volunteers. I remember spending weeks alone sleeping in forests with nothing but my backpack,' he said.
Reda Alsaba from Egypt also said he
