THE Home Office is targeting vulnerable women for deportation to Rwanda after identifying them as potential victims of trafficking, a new report by a charity has found. 

The in-depth analysis of 36 people threatened with removal to the east African country also found that the scheme has compounded mental health problems, including increasing the risk of self-harm and suicide. 

Many vulnerable people, including age-disputed children and suicidal individuals are among those who’ve been targeted, the report by Medical Justice published today claims. 

Of those included in the analysis, 17 had medical assessments carried out by clinicians while being held in detention. The report showed that the vast majority — 14 — displayed signs of being victims of torture, while six had indicators of trafficking. 

Shockingly, Medical Justice found that two women and one man who’d been officially recognised as potential victims of trafficking by the Home Office were later given notices of intent for deportation to Rwanda.

And at least eight had also been recognised by the government as having evidence of a history of torture. 

Many remain in detention centres despite the cancellation of the first flight to Rwanda on June 14, and even after the Home Office has acknowledged their vulnerabilities.

While the Home Office has insisted that no one will be removed to Rwanda if it is “unsafe or inappropriate for them,” the charity’s analysis found that the screening process used to detect vulnerabilities was “inadequate.”

The report also notes that the prospect of removal alone is enough to cause “profound harm” to the mental health and wellbeing of those targeted.

Of those assessed, 11 were found to have suicidal thoughts, and one had attempted to take their life twice while being held in detention. Some were clinically considered to be at high risk of suicide if they are threatened with removal to Rwanda. 

“Vulnerable asylum-seekers are already paying the human cost of the agreement, before any removals have taken place,” the report says. 

Dr Rachel Bingham, a clinical adviser for Medical Justice, said: “Our report shows extremely high rates of evidence of torture, trafficking and other vulnerabilities in this group, to whom the government plan to deny assessment or interview before they are forcibly removed. 

“As a doctor, what shocks me most is the total disregard for the need to assess the risks of subjecting individual people to this policy.”

Medical Justice has called for the policy to be abandoned and the urgent release of those being held in indefinite immigration pending possible removal to Rwanda.

“To not do so, given the medical evidence, means the harm the government is inflicting is premeditated,” the charity’s director Emma Ginn warned. 

Responding to the report, Freedom from Torture’s Kolbassia Haoussou, who is himself a victim of torture, said it was “deeply disturbing” that the Home Office is “knowingly trying to remove survivors like me to Rwanda under their cruel ‘cash for humans’ deal.”

A Home Office spokesperson said the report features a “number of inaccuracies and misrepresentations” about the policy. 

“We have been clear from the start that no-one will be relocated if it is unsafe or inappropriate for them, and our thorough assessment of Rwanda has found that it is a fundamentally safe and secure country, with a track record of supporting asylum-seekers.”