Metro

Rwanda to receive first 50 asylum seekers from UK by end of May

Published

2 years ago

May 20, 2022

The first batch of 50 asylum seekers apprehended in the United Kingdom are to be transferred to Rwanda by the end of May for proper profiling, a British government spokesperson said on Friday.

The agreement which has continued to stir up controversies, was reached on April between the UK government and Rwandan and would see the British government sending people seeking asylum to the East African country to be profiled on their proper status, with the Rwandan government getting paid for the service.

Also confirming the imminent transfer, Rwanda’s deputy government spokesman, Alain Mukurarinda, said:

“According to the information we have, the first batch of migrants will arrive by the end of the month; but it is the British government that knows how many will come and when they will come.

“Once they have got their (asylum seeker) status, they will go and live with other Rwandans. They will be free. They will not be prisoners,” Mukurarinda said.

The statement from the Home Office also noted that the British government has started to notify those who are likely to be relocated, with the first flights expected to take place in the coming months.

The plan had initially faced stiff opposition from international human rights groups which expressed concerns over Rwanda’s human rights record as noted by the British government itself noted last year.

In an earlier report, the British government said more than 28,000 migrants and refugees made the crossing from mainland Europe to Britain on rickety boats, prompting the idea of sending those arrested to the African country to be properly profiled.

Britain has said the plan to send people to Rwanda would initially cost 120 million pounds ($158 million), which would be paid by UK.

On Thursday, the Rwandan government took journalists on a tour of hostels that were being adapted to house the migrants, fully paid for by the British government.

Related Topics:asylum Featured Rwanda United Kingdom

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Metro

EU launches initiative to reintegrate over 417,661 out-of-school children in Nigeria

Published

2 hours ago

November 15, 2024

Isaac Dachen

The European Union (EU) has launched an initiative to reintegrate over 417,661 out-of-school children in Nigeria, particularly in the northwestern parts of the country.

Mrs. Tobi Ransomed, who is the consortium lead, disclosed this during the launching of the “Accelerating Basic Education and Livelihood Opportunities for Children and Youth in North West Nigeria Program” (ABEP), held in Dutse, the capital of Jigawa State, on Thursday.

While declaring the event open, Ransomed noted that the high rate of out-of-school children in the region required a holistic approach from all relevant stakeholders to ensure these children reached their potential.

Speaking further, she said the ABEP three-year pilot program would be implemented through Save the Children International, PLAN, and Development Alternatives Incorporated (DAG) across twelve local government areas in Kano, Jigawa, and Sokoto States.

“Data from Save the Children International (SCI), has shown that 10% of the world’s out-of-school children are in Nigeria, with over 10 million primary school-age children not in school. Approximately 25% of girls and 10% of boys in the country have been victims of sexual violence,” she stated.

“The program aims to increase access to safe, quality, and inclusive alternative and accelerated education programs for 324,000 young girls and boys, as well as 32,400 persons with disabilities, supporting their transition into formal or non-formal education.

“This project plans to increase access to livelihood opportunities, vocational education, and green job opportunities for 60,000 youths and 6,000 persons with disabilities, with 20,000 beneficiaries in each participating state.

“The overall objective is to contribute to the empowerment of the poorest, underserved, and most marginalized population groups, including women, girls, and youth, by providing access to quality, inclusive, gender-sensitive, and conflict-sensitive education in northwestern Nigeria with a special focus on Kano, Jigawa, and Sokoto States,” she stated.

Metro

World Bank pledges $3b to support Zambia’s development goals

Published

20 hours ago

November 14, 2024

Isaac Dachen

The World Bank Group has pledged to avail Zambia with approximately $3 billion to support the country’s development goals under the new Country Partnership Framework (CPF) for 2025-2029, with nearly half of the funds already disbursed.

World Bank Country Manager, Achim Fock, who made this known at the CPF launch at the Mulungushi Conference Centre in Lusaka on Wednesday, outlined the global lender’s focus areas, which included enhancing jobs, human capital, and climate resilience.

Fock highlighted that $200 million had been approved to strengthen Zambia’s social protection programs, including the Refugee and Host Community Project.

He also expressed optimism for upcoming approvals, including the Climate and Economic Resilience Financing and the Zambia-Tanzania Interconnector.

Zambia’s Finance and National Planning Minister, Situmbeko Musokotwane, who also spoke at the event, noted that 2.3 million Zambian households have so far benefited from social protection interventions such as the Cash for Work Programme, emphasizing the government’s commitment to safeguarding lives amid crises like the recent drought.

Musokotwane further reiterated the government’s commitment to protecting lives during times of crises such as the recent drought.

“More than two thirds of the Zambian population was affected by the drought. It was the government’s view that the first priority was to save lives,” Musokotwane stated.