Looking at the Rwanda Plan – from Rwanda

JVL Introduction

Al Jazeera has done what few, if any, other media outlets have done, which is to look at life in Rwanda and local people’s thoughts about refugees coming from Britain.  They note, for example, the serious housing shortage, high unemployment levels and that many refugees already there are living in poor to terrible conditions in camps.  Meanwhile people who had been housed after the Rwandan genocide were moved out to make space for the refugees to be sent from the UK so there may be resentment as well, although some do see the potential for it being positive with refugees contributing to the wider society.

We have previously published our concerns about this policy before it became an Act and again yesterday after it was passed.  It now only awaits the formality of “Royal Assent”.  The serious moral , legal and also practical issues remain and we note, with sadness but no surprise, that Labour prefers to object only on the practical difficulties but there is so much more to worry about such a noting that Rwandans who spoke to reporters were worried about giving their names.  And the UK has decided that Rwanda is – and will always be – a safe place.  It is one more example of jettisoning International law when it is not convenient.  (Also worth noting that Rwanda had a scheme with Israel that was abandoned as refugees often tried making the journey again.)

LL

This article was originally published by Al Jazeera on Tue 23 Apr 2024. Read the original here.