Laura Kyrke-Smith, IRC UK Executive Director, said:

“We are relieved that the flight scheduled to deport asylum seekers to Rwanda last night has been called off.   

"As we have seen from the generous and caring response to crises in Afghanistan and Ukraine, the British people want to help people who find themselves in great need, through no fault of their own. Yet instead, the UK Government is intent on outsourcing its responsibilities as a global power and causing further trauma to already vulnerable people. 

"We continue to urge the UK Government to fundamentally rethink this approach and deliver a fair and effective system of protection for everyone.”