The United Nations on Friday accused the British government of dishonesty in its plan to deport migrants who entered illegally to Rwanda, during a hearing held in London a few days before the first planned departures.

• Read also: Finland wants to build fences on its border with Russia

Under a controversial law that came into force in April, the UK plans to send illegally arrived asylum seekers to the East African country, located more than 6,000 kilometers from London. on British soil. The first plane carrying migrants to Rwanda is due to take off on June 14.

Friday, the High Court in London examined this project much decried by associations for the defense of human rights which aims, says the government, to deter clandestine crossings of the Channel, in full increase.

Representing the High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR), Me Laura Dubinsky declared at the hearing that the UN agency was concerned about the risk of "serious and irreparable harm" caused to the refugees sent to Rwanda, adding that the organization "n 'in no way approves of the Anglo-Rwandan arrangement'.

“The UNHCR is not involved in the arrangement between the UK and Rwanda, despite claims to the contrary by the Minister of State,” she stressed, accusing the government of misleading statements.

This hearing at the High Court is taking place after a union and the human rights associations Care4Calais and Detention Action on Wednesday launched, alongside four asylum seekers, an urgent appeal to the courts in an attempt to block their deportation to Rwanda.

The Interior Ministry said it had canceled the deportation order for three of them.

According to the organization Care4Calais, some 35 Sudanese, 18 Syrians, 14 Iranians, 11 Egyptians, but also 9 Afghans who fled the Taliban are among the more than 130 asylum seekers who were notified of their possible departure on June 14.

However, more than 90 affected migrants have already launched legal challenges to stay in the UK, lawyers say.