London, United Kingdom, March 5, 2026 — Flora Alexander, IRC UK Executive Director, said,
“The UK has long been a place of refuge for people escaping war and persecution, yet today’s measures risk undermining that legacy when it is needed most. The government is restricting visa access for people from Afghanistan, Cameroon, Myanmar and Sudan at the very moment when new safe routes are not yet operational and remain extremely limited. All four of these countries are on the IRC’s 2026 Emergency Watchlist - the world’s worst humanitarian crises - yet there is still no viable pathway for the vast majority of people who urgently need refuge or anyone fleeing serious persecution.
It is wrong to suggest that entering with permission to study and later claiming asylum when war breaks out or persecution escalates is an abuse of the protection system.This is reflected in the Home Office’s own decisions, with very high recognition rates for countries like Sudan, where the reality of danger is undeniable. Calling this ‘misuse’ obscures the real issue: people have no alternative safe route to the UK in the first place.
If the Government wants to demonstrate control and compassion to the British public, it must create safe routes at a meaningful scale and ensure people fleeing crises and persecution receive the support they need to rebuild their lives and contribute to British life.”
ENDS