London, United Kingdom, August 15, 2024 — In August 2021 the Taliban took control of Afghanistan, prompting 2.5 million Afghans to flee the country, many in fear of persecution for supporting UK efforts in their home country. Three years on, the International Rescue Committee UK (IRC UK) welcomes the UK government's recent efforts to improve safe routes for Afghan refugees and calls for continued strengthening of safe pathways for all people seeking protection.
IRC UK welcomes the new government’s swift action on the Afghan schemes, opening a critical family reunion pathway for Afghans separated during Operation Pitting during its first weeks in office. This pathway offers long-awaited hope to separated families, and recognises the importance of knowing their loved ones are safe, enabling Afghans in the UK to move forward with their lives. We urge the government to build on this progress by ensuring the swift relocation of all eligible Afghans under the Afghan Citizens Resettlement Scheme (ACRS) and to strengthen its commitment to safe pathways for all people seeking protection.
While the opening of the ACRS and the Afghan Relocations and Assistance Policy (ARAP) under the previous government demonstrated the UK’s commitment to supporting Afghan refugees, implementation has been slow. Only 1,611 Afghans were brought to the UK via ACRS pathways in 2022 and 2023 combined, leaving many eligible individuals trapped in Afghanistan and the region, facing continued risk, food insecurity, poverty and uncertainty.
Consequently, with limited options to seek safety, Afghans have consistently been among the top five nationalities arriving in the UK irregularly over the past three years, and made up 19 per cent of all small boat arrivals in the year ending March 2024. Many of these individuals may be eligible for the ACRS but have been forced to resort to perilous journeys due to delays in implementation and the slow processing of applications.
As we mark the third year since the change in power in Afghanistan, we ask the new government to continue its positive momentum and finally deliver the promised ‘warm welcome’ to eligible Afghans still waiting to be brought to safety.
Denisa Delić, Director of Advocacy, International Rescue Committee UK, says,
“The consistently high number of people from Afghanistan making small boat crossings, underscores the need for effective safe routes, not only for Afghans, but for all individuals seeking safety. Recent tragic loss of life in the Channel reminds us of the dire consequences of inaction. These preventable and unacceptable deaths will persist unless safe routes are made available for those in need.
The new government has made a welcome start, but more must be done. There is an opportunity to learn from the ACRS’s shortcomings, and urgently expand safe routes for refugees - including by improving resettlement and family reunion schemes - and exploring new routes, such as a Refugee Visa. Only by scaling up and expediting safe routes can the government genuinely reduce the number of individuals making these hazardous journeys, save countless lives, and fulfil its humanitarian obligations.”
The IRC’s support [notes to editors]
In the UK, the IRC has supported Afghan refugees as they rebuild their lives over the past three years. This has included specialised integration sessions, employment support, peer mentorship opportunities, and leadership training. The IRC also supports refugee children, including Afghan children, through its Healing Classrooms programme, which supports schools and educators in developing inclusive and nurturing learning spaces.
Globally, IRC resettlement and integration teams have supported Afghan refugees to secure homes, rebuild their lives, and integrate into new communities.
In Afghanistan, the IRC continues to deliver support, and has provided healthcare, cash support, and emergency assistance to over 14.5 million people in the past three years. The organisation’s country programme is proudly served by 99% Afghan nationals, both men and women, dedicated to assisting those affected by the crisis.