CHARITIES have revealed that the Home Office has continued to target asylum-seekers for deportation to Rwanda, including women, children and torture survivors. 

Dozens of people are currently being held in detention pending removal to the east African nation. They include women, and children who have been wrongly assessed as adults, MPs have heard. 

This suggests that the Home Office is preparing a second flight to Rwanda even though ongoing litigation means that deportations to the country must be put on hold until a decision is reached. 

Freedom from Torture told the Star today that PM Boris Johnson’s resignation should be an opportunity for the government to put a stop to the “cruel” scheme. 

“But instead he is trying to accelerate his campaign against men, women and children seeking sanctuary in the UK,” Freedom from Torture chief executive Sonya Sceats told the Star.

“This disgraced government’s inhumane Rwanda scheme reflects one of the lowest points in the recent political history of this country.”

Charity workers told the home affairs select committee earlier this week of a “huge increase” in the number of people being detained for the purpose of deportation to Rwanda. 

Refugee Council chief executive Enver Solomon told MPs on Wednesday that children were among those facing removal. 

“We have had a number of cases of young people who say they are children who have not been given a proper age assessment who have been given a notice of intent and I think that is of grave concern,” he said. 

Charity workers said that it was their understanding that women are also being targeted for deportation to Rwanda, unlike the previous flight in which only men were given tickets before it was cancelled. 

Raising concerns about failures to assess for vulnerabilities, Medical Justice casework manager Theresa Schleicher told MPs that the charity had seen “large numbers” of people with a history of torture given notices of intent, as well those with severe mental and physical health conditions. 

Mr Solomon added that the deal has not only impacted those directly targeted but the wider refugee community in Britain, especially children. 

“We have seen children self-harming because they are so worried and anxious about being sent to Rwanda,” he said, saying that when these concerns were raised by the Home Office, there was no “serious desire” to address them.