A refugee facing deportation to Rwanda says he would rather kill himself than abandon his teen brother who can stay in the UK.
Nine refugees will be on the first flight to the capital Kigali on June 14, according to charity Care 4 Calais.
Four others have been told they will be sent “imminently” – including two males claiming to be 16-years-old.
Syrian Saleh, not his real name, is distraught at being forced to leave behind his 16-year-old brother.
“I would rather kill myself than call my mother telling her I’m in Rwanda 1,000 miles from Abdel,” he said.
Appealing directly to the Government, Saleh, 27, asked: “Why are you doing this to me when you’re not with other asylum seekers? Why Rwanda?” He says he fled Syria’s civil war after being tortured by the regime.
He and Abdel crossed the Channel separately.
Saleh was caught and put in a detention centre where he was told he would be sent to Rwanda.
“They didn’t give a s**t,” he said.
Of his brother, he added: “I failed to take care of him when the smuggler separated us and I’m failing again.”
Care 4 Calais is working with 70 of around 100 refugees who have had ‘notices of intent’ for deportation.
A spokeswoman accused ministers of terrifying refugees who had already “escaped from the very worst things in this world” to deter them from coming here, adding: “Is this what we as a civilised nation want to do?”
The Home Office says they will get training, housing, and healthcare to “rebuild their lives” in Rwanda.
