Three years have passed since the fall of Kabul in 2021. And yet, the resettlement needs of Afghans remains desperately high. Despite the UK government’s promise to provide safe routes to the UK through resettlement schemes, these schemes are plagued by delays and inconsistent decision-making, leaving countless Afghans in danger.
It’s estimated that 23.7 million people in Afghanistan – over half of the population – will need humanitarian aid in 2024.
Today, we’ve published the Executive Summary of our upcoming report as part of the Afghan Pro Bono Initiative (APBI), ‘Still Waiting: The Afghans Abandoned by the UK.’ APBI is delivered in partnership with Safe Passage and our law firm partners.
This report builds on the research published by APBI in August 2023, which highlighted the lack of access that Afghans have to functioning, safe routes to the UK.
We’re calling on the UK government to take the following urgent actions:
- Flexibility in Documentation Requirements
- Case-by-Case Biometric Waivers
- Regular and Clear Communication
We’re also making the following scheme-specific recommendations:
- Lower the threshold for proving ‘imminent threat to life’ for the Afghan Relocation and Assistance Policy (ARAP)
- Create a clear timeline for the Afghan Citizen’s Resettlement Scheme (ACRS) Pathway 3
- Tailor family reunion routes for each scheme
The UK government needs to uphold its commitments to the Afghan people. We urge the new government to act on these recommendations and improve the resettlement schemes.
You can read the executive summary of the report below. The full report will be published in September.
Photo credit: ©Kayhan
