Rwandan says it is ready to provide accommodation to asylum seekers deported by the British government.

The UK intends to begin shipping the refugees in July.  

Speaking to the BBC, Yolande Maloko, the spokeswoman for the Rwandan government, said, “We (Rwanda) are ready (for them),” referring to the asylum seekers on the UK deportation list.

Ms Maloko added, “(What) I cannot tell you is how many thousands we’re taking in the first year or in the second year. This will depend on very many factors that are being worked out now.”

Starting in July, thousands of asylum seekers are expected to be on forced and voluntary deportation flights to Rwanda as part of the deal between Kigali and London to accommodate migrants who were unsuccessful with their asylum applications.

The government has a “plan to start flights going in 10 to 12 weeks that is being worked on by the Home Office,” the Transport Secretary Mark Harper said. “We want a steady rhythm of flights going to Rwanda through this year,” he added.

According to the BBC, the UK government plans to send around 52,000 asylum seekers to Rwanda but Ms Maloko’s comments did not reflect the country’s commitment to accommodate close to that number.