PRINCE Charles and Camilla spoke for all of us when they paid tribute to the victims of the 1994 Rwandan genocide during a visit to a memorial in Kigali.
As they met survivors this week, Charles reacted by saying: “Terrible, happens all too often,” to which Camilla lamented, “What humans can do to humans.”
The Prince of Wales is representing the Queen, who is head of the Commonwealth, as prime ministers and presidents gathered in Rwanda for a global summit.
It is awkward because earlier this month Charles had criticised the Prime Minister’s Rwandan asylum scheme.
The prince reportedly described the plan to fly people 4,000 miles on a one-way ticket as “appalling”.
But what really is appalling is the traffickers profiting from people’s desperation, taking huge sums of money to bring them to this country in perilous conditions, often resulting in death by drowning.
This is the epitome of Camilla’s comment about the evil that people can do to each other.
Human traffickers are evil personified, and what is crystal clear is that if something isn’t done to stop this, then the evil will continue.
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What strikes me, when it comes to critics of any attempts made to address our immigration situation, is that some people seem not to have noticed the global asylum system is broken.
Priti Patel’s first migrant flight to Rwanda was halted after the European Court of Human Rights intervened at the last minute.
Challenges and critiques of any new plan are to be expected. But no one, as far as I can gather, is offering an alternative solution to what is a major problem for this country.
What is happening more and more is that migrants are using morally bankrupt people smugglers to gain access to the UK.
Then some are abusing the asylum system to remain here without merit.
That is inhibiting our capacity to help the many people who arrive in genuine need.
Last year, more than 28,500 people came to the UK illegally on small boats across the English Channel.
Already this year, more than 10,000 have crossed.
Terrible cycle
Most of those who make it into the country have the means to pay people smugglers as a way of jumping the queue ahead of people genuinely in need.
And many arrive after passing through safe countries with functioning asylum systems. Instead, they have been “asylum shopping” and opt for Britain.
The cost of the asylum system is now £1.5billion a year, which includes a taxpayer bill of £5million per day for hotel accommodation.
The new partnership with Rwanda will see those arriving illegally in the UK liable for relocation to the African country, which is safe and secure, with a track record of helping refugees and a non- discrimination clause running through its constitution.
Everyone will be considered on a case-by-case basis and nobody will be transferred if it is not safe or appropriate for them.
The recently passed Nationality and Borders Act increases sentences for people smuggling, and makes it easier to remove those who make meritless claims to stymie their removal.
These are positive changes that will help to restore the right balance to our asylum system.
And all of these plans are fully compliant with UK law and our international obligations.
These are the only practical solutions being put forward and both promise to break what has become a terrible cycle.
Many people have been critical of these plans without offering any remotely viable alternative.
But it is a matter of urgency that we act to save people from drowning and to put people-smuggling gangs, who use their profits for evil, out of business.
