A Nigerian asylum seeker whose wife died at a hostel in Galway earlier this month said he is still awaiting a response to his pleas for alternative accommodation.
Bashiru Mohammed Dauda (30) said that he and his two-year-old daughter, Liyah, cannot return to the Eglinton Hotel in Salthill, Galway, where his wife, Nomvuna Khanyile (27), was found dead on January 6th.
A Garda investigation on behalf of the coroner is still continuing into her death which is believed to be due to malnutrition.
The couple had sought self-catering accommodation last year from the Reception and Integration Agency (RIA), as Ms Khanyile was unable to eat the food provided at the direct provision hostel. The request was backed up by her doctor, and the RIA said it did offer a placing in Mosney, Co Meath, on December 15th last.
Mr Dauda claimed the offer was withdrawn and he wrote to the RIA on the matter on January 15th.
He is currently staying with friends in Galway, as he cannot bear to return to the Eglinton Hotel. He also pointed out that he had not received any communication from anyone in authority about his wife's death.
The RIA said Ms Khanyile had been under medical care of health professionals for some time and that alternative accommodation had been made just before she died.
It said the needs of ethnic groups must be provided for in menus provided under contract to it by hostel owners.
The use of direct provision and its impact on the health of asylum seekers was criticised yesterday by a number of contributors to an inter-agency conference in Galway hosted by the Health Service Executive West, NUI Galway and the Galway Refugee Support Group.
A recently published study of the mental health promotion needs of asylum seekers and refugees highlighted the need for a review of policies within direct provision centres, Regine Stewart of the Galway City Development Board said. Such a review should also provide for training and employment opportunities, and capacity building measures among residents, she said.