Protest march called in Belfast after deaths of 14 homeless people

Activists demand help for vulnerable as cost of living and public health emergency put more people on streets

A homeless charity has called on activists and supporters to march through Belfast on Saturday to protest against a sharp increase in the number of people dying on the streets of Northern Ireland's capital.

The mayor, Tina Black, council party group leaders and statutory agencies met on Friday to discuss a crisis in which an estimated 14 people have died in recent months. Approximately nine were found dead on the street, the rest in homeless accommodation.