GENEVA - Two United Nations top officials on Tuesday called on the UK to reconsider its plan to transfer asylum seekers to Rwanda as five people died while trying to cross the English Channel to Britain.

In a joint statement, Filippo Grandi, the UN High Commissioner for Refugees, and Volker Turk, the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights, called on the UK to instead take practical measures to address irregular flows of migrants and refugees.

"The new legislation marks a further step away from the UK's long tradition of providing refuge to those in need, in breach of the Refugee Convention," said Grandi.

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The new legislation marks a further step away from the UK's long tradition of providing refuge to those in need, in breach of the Refugee Convention.

Filippo Grandi, the UN High Commissioner for Refugees

Turk, who has criticized the plan before, said that the legislation "seriously hinders the rule of law in the UK and sets a perilous precedent globally".

British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak promised on Monday to start sending asylum seekers to Rwanda within 10 to 12 weeks as the upper house of parliament passed legislation that had been delayed for weeks by attempts to alter the plan.

Other countries are considering tough measures to stem illegal migration, with Italy planning to build reception camps in Albania for thousands of migrants arriving by sea.

ALSO READ: UK's Rwanda asylum scheme hits fresh parliamentary hurdle

Separately, at least five people died while trying to cross the English Channel to Britain off the coast of northern France on Monday night, French media reported.

It is unknown how many migrant boats attempted to set sail during the night. The attempts turned into a tragedy, and at least five people died, reported French daily La Voix du Nord, adding that a major rescue was underway offshore and on the beach of Wimereux.

READ MORE: France rejects UK request as more migrants cross Channel

The region around Calais in northern France is the jumping-off point for the shortest crossing to Britain. In 2023, about 36,000 people made the dangerous crossing in small boats, according to figures by the French maritime authorities.