Homeless Africans sleep in street dustbins to escape freezing temperatures in UK (Video)
Videos circulating on social media have sparked widespread concern after showing homeless Africans in parts of the United Kingdom sleeping inside street dustbins in an apparent attempt to protect themselves from extreme cold weather.
The footage, which has been widely shared online, shows several individuals climbing into large refuse bins late at night, wrapping themselves in layers of clothing and discarded materials to shield themselves from freezing temperatures.
Social media users who shared the videos claimed the scenes were recorded in urban areas during periods of severe winter cold.
One of such clips shared by Raise the Colours, a UK nationalist group, shows a young African man, locked up in a street bin covered in snow.
The man doing the filming goes near the bin and knocked on it a few times before the lid goes up, revealing a black African inside it.
The man filming the scene offers the African a ticket or pass to go to a shelter to pass the night.
The African replied that his phone had died, apparently to let the good Samaritan know there was no way he could get to the location of the shelter without a phone to call a Uber.
The man filming says his boss has offered to pay for Uber for the African to get to the shelter. The African then stands up and tries to climb out of the bin when the film ended.
The videos have reignited debate around homelessness, migrant vulnerability, and access to social welfare in the UK, particularly during winter when temperatures can fall below zero.
While authorities have not officially confirmed the identities or nationalities of the individuals shown, online commentators and advocacy groups say many homeless migrants—especially undocumented or recently arrived individuals—often struggle to access emergency accommodation.
Charities working with homeless populations have long warned that rough sleepers face heightened risks during winter, including hypothermia, illness, and death.
According to homelessness advocacy groups, some migrants are reluctant to seek help due to fear of immigration enforcement, lack of documentation, language barriers, or previous negative experiences with authorities.
UK councils typically activate Cold Weather Emergency Protocols (SWEP) during extreme weather, allowing local authorities to provide temporary shelter regardless of immigration status.
However, campaigners argue that gaps in awareness, capacity constraints, and fear among migrants mean many still sleep rough despite available interventions.
The images have drawn emotional reactions online, with many describing the scenes as a stark reminder of growing inequality and the hidden struggles faced by vulnerable migrants in developed countries.
Nigerians commenting on the videos have called on African leaders to improve their countries to reduce the Japa syndrome that is taking young Africans to Europe, America and other foreign countries in search of greener pastures.
See the clip here.
