Several of them, including people from Egypt, Syria and Sudan, have told the BBC they have gone on hunger strike, and say they see deportation as worse than death.

Inflatable dinghies used by migrants to cross the English Channel from France are seen at the Port of Dover on 14 April 2022 - south-east coast of England

The British government says the planned deportations - which cannot be appealed against - are an attempt to overhaul what it calls a broken asylum system.

It says it is taking every step to prevent self-harm or suicide at immigration removal centres.