Seven-year-old asylum seeking child Dumisani Lungu will not face immediate deportation

A seven-year-old boy who was due to be deported last night with his parents to Malawihas had a temporary reprieve.

Dumisani Lungu, whose parents Caroline Manchinjili and Brian Lungu are failed asylum seekers with HIV, is still in the UK after the Home Office could not provide an appropriate escort for the family making them unable to fly, children’s charity Barnardo’s said today.

The charity is backing the case of the boy, who they say is “likely” to have HIV and faces the prospect of dying alone after watching his sick parents die first.

The family’s barrister is lodging an application for permission to apply for judicial review which will be sent to the High Court in London.

Martin Narey, chief executive of Barnardo’s said:  “We are relieved that Caroline and her family will not face deportation tonight, but the future for this traumatised and vulnerable family is still completely uncertain.  We will continue to press for them to remain in the UK.”

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