Closure of Afghan resettlement schemes represents ‘concerning abandonment of the UK's commitments to the people of Afghanistan,’ says IRC UK

London, United Kingdom, July 3, 2025 —  Responding to the closure of the Afghan resettlement schemes, Flora Alexander, Executive Director of International Rescue Committee UK, said,

 “The sudden closure of the Afghan Relocations and Assistance Policy (ARAP) and Afghan Citizens Resettlement Scheme (ACRS) represents a concerning abandonment of the UK's commitments to the people of Afghanistan. 

With thousands of Afghans still facing persecution or forced into hiding, and a backlog of 22,000 applications still pending, this abrupt closure leaves vulnerable people - including children and families - in dangerous situations with no clear pathway to safety.

Studies consistently show that when safe routes are unavailable, more people resort to irregular migration, making this closure all the more concerning. With UNHCR data showing Afghans continue to have the highest resettlement needs globally, and global resettlement capacity dropping by 84 per cent from 2024 to 2025, the UK must now significantly scale up the UK Resettlement Scheme (UKRS).

Rather than closing pathways to protection, the UK government must take urgent action to properly resource and expand the UKRS, ensuring it provides a viable and accessible route to safety for those most in need - including the many Afghan refugees still facing grave risks."