The United Nations refugee agency (UNHCR) on Friday slammed the United Kingdom’s plan to export some migrants and asylum seekers to the Central African nation of Rwanda under a controversial deal, reported The BBC.
Gillian Triggs, the Assistant High Commissioner for Protection at UNHCR, said the UN refugee agency remains firmly opposed to arrangements that seek to transfer refugees and asylum seekers to third countries in the absence of sufficient safeguards and standards.
He said such arrangements mean shifting asylum responsibilities, evading international obligations, and are contrary to the letter and spirit of the Refugee Convention.
The UNHCR official said people fleeing war, conflict, and persecution deserve compassion and empathy and that they should not be traded like commodities and transferred abroad for processing.
The statement comes after UK Prime Minister Boris Johnson announced a highly controversial scheme on Thursday to transport illegal immigrants trying to cross into Britain to hostels in Rwanda. He said the move will save countless lives from human trafficking. The pilot scheme, which will initially last for five years, will mainly target single men arriving in the UK on boats or lorries.
As per reports, the UK government has paid £120 million to the Rwandan government to settle the migrants.
UNHCR urged both the UK and Rwanda governments to reconsider the plans. It also warned that the plan will increase risks and force refugees to look for alternative routes, exacerbating pressures on frontline states.
Notably, Rwanda has proved to be a safe haven for refugees fleeing conflict and persecution for decades. The majority of the refugees live in camps with limited access to economic opportunities.
UNHCR said it believes that wealthier countries must show solidarity in supporting Rwanda and the refugees it already hosts, and not the other way around. It said that the UK has an obligation to ensure access to asylum for those seeking protection.
