What's happened
The UK government plans to deport asylum seekers to Rwanda indefinitely, with costs estimated at
£1.8 million per person. The plan has received parliamentary approval and initial flights are expected to take off in the next 10 to 12 weeks.
Why it matters
The UK's decision to deport asylum seekers to Rwanda has sparked controversy and criticism, with concerns raised about human rights abuses and breaching the refugee convention. The impact of this policy on asylum seekers and the broader refugee crisis remains a point of contention.
What the papers say
The Guardian reports that Home Secretary James Cleverly defends the plan, citing cost reduction benefits, while The Independent highlights Ryanair CEO Michael O'Leary's willingness to fly asylum seekers to Rwanda. The contrasting opinions shed light on the diverse perspectives surrounding the deportation scheme.
How we got here
The UK government's deportation plan to Rwanda aims to address the costs and challenges of housing asylum seekers in the country. The decision has faced opposition from various groups, including the United Nations, raising concerns about human rights violations and the treatment of refugees.
More on these topics
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Rwanda, formerly Ruanda, officially the Republic of Rwanda, is a landlocked country in the Great Rift Valley where the African Great Lakes region and East Africa converge. One of the smallest countries on the African mainland, its capital city is Kigali.
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Ryanair DAC is an Irish budget airline founded in 1984, headquartered in Swords, Dublin, with its primary operational bases at Dublin and London Stansted airports.
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Michael Kevin O'Leary is the Chief Executive Officer of Ryanair. He is one of Ireland's wealthiest businessmen.