Umm Muhammed Umar

Britain and Rwanda have continued efforts to excuse their highly provocative migration agreement in the face of widespread criticism.

The two countries had on Thursday announced a deal to send refugees arriving in the UK as stowaways on trucks or boats to Rwanda where they would to have their asylum claims processed.

Africa News reports that British Home Secretary Priti Patel and the Rwandan Minister of Foreign Affairs, Vincent Biruta, had jointly written an article for The Times, in which they said, “this ground-breaking partnership will set a new international standard”. They further claimed that their agreement would deliver a legal, safe, orderly and controlled means for people to improve their lives, flee tyranny, persecution, and conflict.

The United Nations High Commission for Refugees, meanwhile, said there were “more humane ways” to deal the issue. Senior legal officer Larry Bottinick said that he had seen a similar arrangement in operation when he had worked in Israel, and that it had not worked. He added, “it doesn’t deter smuggling it promotes it.” Bottinick added, “People went to South Sudan, Sudan to Libya, and those that survived back to Europe. So, it was more hazardous and more work for the people smugglers than the Channel will ever be.”