TONIGHT: shocking Channel 4 News report reveals how hundreds of overseas students have become destitute in the UK during lockdown, and turned to food banks in desperation.

One food bank in E London caters exclusively for 1700 international students a week, who queue for hours.

Report by @Anja_Popp, produced by @ShaheenSattar & filmed by @WilwithoneL - reveals international student visas don't give them access to government help and lockdown means there's no part time work available for them to support themselves.

Ben arrived from India to study in UK in March. Shared room with 1 student in Bedfordshire but when Covid hit - moved to house in E London with 14 students. Cramped accommodation means only way they can afford the rent - is by sharing beds - with as many as three other students.

Pandemic has meant that instead of a lecture hall, these cramps room are where they learn. Ben tells @Anja_Popp 'We had lots of hopes and dreams when coming here - to change our lives for the better. It is much different to what we pictured than when we got our visa in our hands'

Newham Community Project food bank organiser Elyas Ismail: “No doubt about it, this should be responsibility of universities. They're charging huge amounts of money, it's not costing them much, they should be responsible, they should be giving out vouchers & free accommodation"

The Newham Community Project food bank serves students from FIFTEEN different universities.

The universities point out that they have hardship funds - but many of these students have never heard of them - and don't know how to access it.

Ben: 'We don't want our parents to know that we came here just to suffer'

Tonight, Vivienne Stern, Director of Universities UK International told @JackieLongc4 "Universities have been able to keep their libraries open ..."

WATCH full Channel 4 News report here:

It's the good folk at Newham Community Project @newhamcommunity who are helping out the struggling international students.

Give them a follow - I'm sure they'd appreciate your support.

If you know of other international university students affected by this issue, please DM @Anja_Popp and @ShaheenSattar