I have just spoken to some of the parents refusing food at Yarl's Wood and they are saying they can no longer take life behind the wire, their main concern is their children, they want to know what crimes their children have committed to be incarcerated indefinitely.

These parents came together to discuss the issue of the detention of their children yesterday evening and decided within the hour that they should make their feelings public and that a hunger strike would be the best way to emphasise the plight of their children. Starting at breakfast time this morning they have refused to eat.

One parent said for those of us who have been granted Judicial review we are still being held as the Home Office has said they would like to make more enquires. This parent went on further to say that: "it is like they have put us in a small box, with the intention of forcing us to go back to our countries which are not safe." "as I am on medication that I need to take with food I have stopped taking any medication. We are tired of being treated less than human beings, the ill treatment of our wives and children must stop, they deserve to be treated with human dignity."

One of the mothers said she saw three staff holding and questioning a little boy about why he was not going to school.

Another said: "We want the Home Office to hear us and free us, I don't understand how some people are freed without bail and some have to obtain bail'.

After reading Anne Owers report on Yarl's Wood published yesterday it is not surprising that the parents have taken action.

Yarl's Wood has seen many hunger strikes since it opened and I doubt this will be the last one.

The hunger strikers deserve all the support that we can give them, contact your MP, make him/her aware of the families behind the wire at Yarl's Wood

Nellie de jongh
 Nelliedejongh@ncadc.org.uk
079 1028 2047