My interview with the BBC about very tragic loss of lives in Essex on 23 October.
The trailer which had 39 victims (Vietnamese nationals) were discovered in a refrigerated lorry had come into the UK.
Transcription:
Good evening and welcome to the program I'm Victoria Hollins. First tonight, more on the thirty nine people who died in a lorry in Essex we've now learned that some of the dead are believed to be Vietnamese nationals. And, while the investigation continues today a Chinese Church in West London has been holding special prayers. But five years ago it was another community left reeling after 35 Afghan Sikhs were rescued from a shipping container in Tilbury. One had died during the journey. Today they had a message of support and questions over how this could have happened again. James Waterhouse reports.
Pritpal Singh prays every day, despite the colourful surroundings of the Singh Sabha Gurdwara in Southall. It's been a poignant week. He's a Sikh originally from Afghanistan and legally arrived to live in London 18 years ago. In 2014, 35 others tried to do the same via a shipping container at Tilbury Docks they were found after banging and screaming from the inside one man died.
It is not easy, but in a long-term, and I find out that a couple of them it took them 3 to 4 years and finally, most of them were able to get a stay in Britain, and now they are contributing and integrating into community, by learning language and everything.
With 39 people dead what happened in Grays has been an even more disturbing outcome. Do you understand the concerns that many will have with refugees migrants making this dangerous journey?
Homelessness is increased in last few years, the NHS is underfunded, the police services, all these public services are under huge constraint. I perfectly understand that perspective as well because as you live in the country you are part of the country. But on the other hand I think as long as there will be conflict and war and inequality in other part of the world, you will have people who will go to look out for a better life in other countries.
There'll be communities across the capital who will be deeply affected by what happened in Grays this week, many will have made similar journeys but now there are broader questions over how to stop these kinds of tragedies from happening on our borders London. Afghans know what their Chinese neighbors will be going through something similar.
I think most of the congregation member when they first heard about it of course one of sadness horror but as a Christian congregation is one of sympathy.
David still remembers fifty-eight Chinese people being found suffocated to death in a lorry in Dover in 2000. He's about to retire and didn't believe he'd see that level of human loss again. The nationalities of the 39 found in Grays haven't been confirmed yet. Police had thought they were all Chinese but it's now thought six were from Vietnam. What's clear is the investigation will take time along with processing what's happened once more. James Waterhouse BBC London.
25 окт 2024
