PICTURES have been released of the Rwandan hotel to which asylum seekers will be sent from the UK.
Hope Hostel in Kigali, the country’s capital, will house refugees deported from Britain under the “cruel” and “inhumane” policy.
The hotel sleeps 100 people over four floors and typically, two people will share a room.
Asylum seekers will need to pass through metal detectors before entering the hotel, which is also equipped with a 20-strong team of staff, its own security team, CCTV and bag scanners.
A reporter for the PA news agency was among members of the press invited to tour the facilities by the UK Government.
PA reports those housed in the hotel will be given three meals a day, with respect given to dietary requirements, and have the option to cook their own food.
Meals will be taken in a communal dining room which has cleaning facilities at the entrance.
There will be guards enforcing order in the facility and government officials and hotel staff said those found to be “aggressive or causing distress” to others will be offered counselling and medical attention.
A sign at the entrance reads: “Come as a guest, leave as a friend.”
On arrival, migrants will be tested for Covid-19 in a tent which PA said also doubles as a games room with a pool table. There are also plans to include darts and table tennis in the testing tent.
Those who test positive from the virus will be isolated from others.
There are 12 showers and toilets – six of each – in communal bathrooms on each floor as well as two prayer rooms so men and women can worship separately, computers, water coolers and laundry facilities.
Men and women will be separated on different floors.
Those housed in the hotel will be given a monthly allowance of 100,000 Rwandan Francs (RWF) – roughly £90.
Over the course of their stay, they will be interviewed in a marquee to determine whether their asylum claims will be accepted.
If they are successful, they will have the right to live in Rwanda. Otherwise, they will be sent back to their home country.
A shop will operate in the hotel, selling cigarettes (3000 RWF or £2.50), T-shirts (5000 RWF or £4), matches, socks and boxer shorts.
Overall, staff estimate the food, accommodation and supplies on the site cost 60,000 Rwandan Francs (RWF) – roughly £48 – per person, per day to provide.
Of that, the food costs around 15,000RWF (around £12) per person, per day.
Shop keeper Sandrine Mushimiyimana, 23, said more stock is due to arrive.
Private companies are being contracted to clean the facilities and maintain its gardens.
A basketball court is being constructed outside which will also be used for games of football and badminton.
The venue had been prepared to take in its first charges earlier this week prior to the deportation flight being blocked by the European Court of Human Rights.
Home Secretary Priti Patel has vowed to plough ahead with the policy and will fight asylum rights campaigners in court.
