London/Geneva: The United Nations has fired a salvo of criticism at the Refugee Deal signed between the United Kingdom and Rwanda, saying using a human being as a commodity is not right. The UN Refugee Commission has also said that the concerned deal violates the promises made by the United Kingdom on the international level. Last week, the agreement was signed with the Rwanda government with the initiative of British Prime Minister Boris Johnson and Home Minister Priti Patel. As per the agreement, all the illegal immigrants entering the United Kingdom will be sent to the African nation Rwanda.

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Last week, the British Foreign Minister visited Rwanda to sign the agreement. It is being said that Home Minister Priti Patel signed this agreement despite opposition from certain officials from the home department, former British leaders and voluntary groups. As per the agreement, the United Kingdom will be providing findings over $150 million to Rwanda to provide asylum to all the illegal immigrants entering the United Kingdom in Rwanda. This is the first time a European country has sent illegal immigrants to an African country with such an arrangement.

British Prime Minister Boris Johnson justified the agreement with Rwanda, saying, ‘We have unlimited kindness, but the capacity to help people is limited. We cannot demand a blank check from our taxpayers for every person entering the United Kingdom and desirous of settling down here.’ Home Minister Patel justified the agreement and claimed that the other European countries would follow suit.

But the United Nations and voluntary organisations from the United Kingdom have severely criticised the agreement. Gillian Triggs, a senior official with the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees, criticised ‘There is a need to show compassion and empathy towards the people coming to the country to save themselves from war, conflict and atrocities. They should not be used as a commodity. It is wrong to send the immigrants to another country for further process.’ The refugee commission has also demanded that the United Kingdom and Rwanda reconsider the agreement. The British voluntary organisations have lashed out at the government, saying that the deal is inhuman. The number of refugees coming through the British Channel has increased over the last few years. Last year, the United Kingdom accommodated more than 185,000 immigrants. More than 6,000 illegal immigrants have entered the United Kingdom only through the British Channel this year. The United Kingdom has initiated various measures to stop this immigrant influx and the agreement with Rwanda is considered a part of the same measures. The United Kingdom had also signed a deal with France to stop the illegal immigrant influx. The United Kingdom also has decided to prevent intrusions with the deployment of its navy in this region.

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