Charities, including Safe Passage International, have produced a report showing that unaccompanied child refugees are forced to use people smugglers to reach family members in the UK, crossing in small boats.

Government delays in assessing family reunion applications are compelling children to leave the highly dangerous conditions they are exposed to while they wait.

https://www.theguardian.com/world/article/2024/may/13/child-refugees-using-people-smugglers-to-reach-family-in-uk-report-warns

The charities are calling for the following changes:

Amend immigration rules to remove the barriers to children joining refugee non-parent adult relatives in the UK.

Amend immigration rules to allow refugee children in the UK to sponsor parents and siblings.

Open a pathway to resettle the family members of people evacuated under Pathway 1 of the Afghan Citizens’ Resettlement Schemeby June 2024, as promised.