National Audit Office, the British Parliament watchdog has said the government will end up spending up to 600m pounds to deport the first 300 refugees to Rwanda.
In a statement released on Friday, NAO noted that the British government has already paid 220m pounds and has agreed to pay 150m over the next three years as the first 300 asylum seekers are resettled in Rwanda.
Under the agreement, Rwanda is expected to receive up to 150,874 pounds to cover for each individual resettled.
The final cost will depend on total number of refugees resettled in Rwanda.
The controversial novel policy dogged by legal challenges intends to relocate over thousands of refugees who arrive in small inflatable boats in England’s south coast.
According to the British government, majority of the asylum seekers are mostly men from Africa, Arab and Asia fleeing to Britain for economic reasons other than genuine dangers in their previous locations.
However, the policy faces several legal challenges. The UK Supreme Court ruled the policy unlawful due to inadequate laws in Rwanda and also violation of British and International human rights laws.
The British government, on the other hand admits that the policy is “high risk and novel.”
