A Cumbrian refugee support network have said they are 'appalled' at the Government's plans to ship asylum seekers to Rwanda. 

The statement came after Boris Johnson announced new immigration pilot scheme plans which would see tens of thousands of unauthorised migrants, single males, seeking sanctuary in the UK to be flown more than 4,000 miles to Rwanda. 

Home Secretary, Priti Patel, visited the Rwandan capital to sign what the two countries have called the "economic development partnership". 

The Prime Minister has argued at a press conference in Kent that the plan will hopefully deter human traffickers by breaking up their business model. 

However, numerous refugee advocacy groups, including West Cumbria Refugee Support Network (WCRS), have come out and called the plan 'in-humane', especially considering the UK criticised Rwanda last year for their human rights record - of which human rights groups logged evidence of the torture of detainees. 

A spokesperson for WCRS said: "We are appalled by the proposal to exile single male asylum seekers to Rwanda. 

"This will do nothing to stop people risking their lives in small boats. In fact it will encourage whole families to travel together, which could lead to more women and children drowning on our shores," they said. 

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WCRS also said the new deal will ultimately leave the taxpayers footing the bill after the Prime Minister outlined plans to hand an initial down-payment of £120m to the Rwandan government. 

"The only solution to the small boats crisis is safe, legal routes to the UK. 

"We need our MPs to stand up and do the right thing so that Britain can once again be proud of its record on human rights. 

"Public willingness to help Ukrainian refugees shows that the British people still know the meaning of kindness and compassion, even if some of our politicians no longer appear to understand those words," they said. 

The Government has said the first asylum seekers could be flown to Rwanda from the UK within weeks. 

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