Following the Russian invasion of Ukraine this year as a result of NATO Eastern expansionism and the destabilisation of Afghanistan which is now under Taliban control with a crippled economy as a result of Western imperialism, the UK seen a major influx in refugees seeking help. With the shocking display of intake seen in the 2015 Syrian refugee crisis, this was no different, with figures from the 8th of April showing only 1,200 Ukrainians had been granted refuge in the UK. As well as a minuscule 15,000 Afghan refugees. While this alone is a dire display of compassion and humanitarianism, it only gets worse as nationalist-centric policy takes charge.
The Home Office has said it will primarily be single men and women who are survivors of trafficking or torture. However, Israel had previously sent Eritrean and Sudanese asylum seekers to Rwanda - which was internationally criticised and resisted, with studies finding that these refugees were unable to apply for asylum and often had to make dangerous journeys at the hands of people smugglers. Meaning effectively the UK Government is sending those who have suffered trafficking, to suffer it even more. Not only that, the Rwandan Government has a horrific track record of human rights, with the mass genocide of 1994 whereby 800,000 people were killed in 100 days, as well as reports of the President Paul Kagame being accused of orchestrating kidnappings and murder of political opponents. An authoritarian political landscape that no person already fleeing persecution should be sent to as a result of State coercion.
Not only that, this policy is set to cost the tax-payer £1.4B in total, with £120M going to the authoritarian and corrupt Rwandan Government. Yet again we say money that should be going towards the NHS, education, social security, welfare, and housing being funnelled into dictatorships willing to support the UK Governments nationalist agenda.