Women walk past a mural against xenophobia towards Chinese people after two cases of the novel coronavirus were confirmed in Italy, by street artist Laika in Rome, Italy, February 5, 2020. The mural shows a Chinese woman wearing a protective mask with text reading "#JeNeSuisPasUnVirus" next to words on the wall that read: "There is an epidemic of ignorance around, we need to protect ourselves." REUTERS/Guglielmo Mangiapane

A woman walks past a mural against xenophobia towards Chinese people after two cases of the novel coronavirus were confirmed in Italy, by street artist Laika in Rome, Italy, February 5, 2020. The mural shows a Chinese woman wearing a protective mask with text reading "#JeNeSuisPasUnVirus" next to words on the wall that read: "There is an epidemic of ignorance around, we need to protect ourselves." REUTERS/Guglielmo Mangiapane

Refugees carry their possessions after police evicted them from a sit in protest against xenophobia outside the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) offices in Cape Town, South Africa, October 30, 2019. REUTERS/Sumaya Hisham

Police fire a water cannon at refugees evicted from a sit in protest against xenophobia outside the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) offices in Cape Town, South Africa, October 30, 2019. REUTERS/Sumaya Hisham

A refugee shouts at police after they were evicted from a sit in protest against xenophobia outside the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) offices in Cape Town, South Africa, October 30, 2019. REUTERS/Mike Hutchings

Refugees shout at police after they were evicted from a sit in protest against xenophobia outside the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) offices in Cape Town, South Africa, October 30, 2019. REUTERS/Mike Hutchings

A refugee shouts at police after they were evicted from a sit in protest against xenophobia outside the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) offices in Cape Town, South Africa, October 30, 2019. REUTERS/Mike Hutchings

A refugee carries her possessions after they were evicted from a sit in protest against xenophobia outside the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) offices in Cape Town, South Africa, October 30, 2019. REUTERS/Mike Hutchings

A refugee carries her possessions after they were evicted from a sit in protest against xenophobia outside the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) offices in Cape Town, South Africa, October 30, 2019. REUTERS/Mike Hutchings TPX IMAGES OF THE DAY

A refugee sits amongst her possessions after they were evicted from a sit in protest against xenophobia outside the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) offices in Cape Town, South Africa, October 30, 2019. REUTERS/Mike Hutchings

Refugees shout at police after they were evicted from a sit in protest against xenophobia outside the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) offices in Cape Town, South Africa, October 30, 2019. REUTERS/Mike Hutchings

Refugees gather their possessions after they were evicted from a sit in protest against xenophobia outside the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) offices in Cape Town, South Africa, October 30, 2019. REUTERS/Mike Hutchings

Refugees gather their possessions after they were evicted from a sit in protest against xenophobia outside the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) offices in Cape Town, South Africa, October 30, 2019. REUTERS/Mike Hutchings

A child looks on as refugees protest against xenophobia as they gather around the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) offices, requesting the agency to send them to safer countries, in Cape Town, South Africa, October 18, 2019. REUTERS/Sumaya Hisham

Refugees protest against xenophobia as they gather around the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) offices, requesting the agency to send them to safer countries, in Cape Town, South Africa, October 18, 2019. REUTERS/Sumaya Hisham

Refugees protest against xenophobia as they gather around the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) offices, requesting the agency to send them to safer countries, in Cape Town, South Africa, October 18, 2019. REUTERS/Sumaya Hisham

Refugees protest against xenophobia as they gather around the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) offices, requesting the agency to send them to safer countries, in Cape Town, South Africa, October 18, 2019. REUTERS/Sumaya Hisham

A few months after Britain voted to leave the European Union, Maria was waiting to see a doctor at a London hospital when an elderly English woman told her to go back to her native Romania. "You are a foreigner," Maria, who was heavily pregnant at the time, recalls the woman saying. "Your place is not here." Maria was stunned. Until that moment, she had never faced direct abuse over her nationality in her 10 years in the country. But ever since the 2016 Brexit campaign - when some Leave supporters said they wanted Britain to take more control of immigration - Maria said hostility towards EU nationals such as her has come into the open. The 31-year-old, who asked to use just her first name, said she was now preparing to leave Britain later this year with her husband and two children, fed up with what she described as xenophobia, as well as the rising cost of living in London. REUTERS/Alecsandra Dragoi SEARCH "DRAGOI MARIA" FOR THIS STORY. SEARCH "WIDER IMAGE" FOR ALL STORIES. TPX IMAGES OF THE DAY. Matching text: BRITAIN-EU/ROMANIAN

A few months after Britain voted to leave the European Union, Maria was waiting to see a doctor at a London hospital when an elderly English woman told her to go back to her native Romania. "You are a foreigner," Maria, who was heavily pregnant at the time, recalls the woman saying. "Your place is not here." Maria was stunned. Until that moment, she had never faced direct abuse over her nationality in her 10 years in the country. But ever since the 2016 Brexit campaign - when some Leave supporters said they wanted Britain to take more control of immigration - Maria said hostility towards EU nationals such as her has come into the open. The 31-year-old, who asked to use just her first name, said she was now preparing to leave Britain later this year with her husband and two children, fed up with what she described as xenophobia, as well as the rising cost of living in London. REUTERS/Alecsandra Dragoi SEARCH "DRAGOI MARIA" FOR THIS STORY. SEARCH "WIDER IMAGE" FOR ALL STORIES. TPX IMAGES OF THE DAY. Matching text: BRITAIN-EU/ROMANIAN

Berwyn, a neighbour of Maria and Adi who moved to the UK in the 1980s from Australia, says goodbye to Maria after a visit at her home in London, Britain, February 19, 2019. Berwyn has dual citizenship - Australian and Irish as she lived in Ireland for a few years before moving to Britain. She calls the family her 'dearest Christian Romanian friends'. Maria, 31, and her husband Adi, 37, are preparing to leave Britain later this year with their two children, fed up with what Maria says is xenophobia and the rising cost of living in London. REUTERS/Alecsandra Dragoi SEARCH "DRAGOI MARIA" FOR THIS STORY. SEARCH "WIDER IMAGE" FOR ALL STORIES.

Adi (R), 37, works with his colleague Alexandru who is also from Romania, for a removal company, in London, Britain, February 14, 2019. Adi and his wife Maria are preparing to leave Britain later this year with their two children, fed up with what Maria says is xenophobia and the rising cost of living in London. REUTERS/Alecsandra Dragoi SEARCH "DRAGOI MARIA" FOR THIS STORY. SEARCH "WIDER IMAGE" FOR ALL STORIES.

Maria, 31, holds her baby daughter Ioana, who is less than a week old, at their home in London, Britain, February 3, 2019. Maria and her husband Adi are preparing to leave Britain later this year with their two children, fed up with what Maria says is xenophobia and the rising cost of living in London. REUTERS/Alecsandra Dragoi SEARCH "DRAGOI MARIA" FOR THIS STORY. SEARCH "WIDER IMAGE" FOR ALL STORIES.

Adi, 37, who works for a removal company and his wife, Maria, 31, take their daughters, Elena, who is two years and seven-months old, and baby Ioana, who is less than a week old, for a walk in Hampstead Heath near their home in London, Britain, February 3, 2019. Maria and Adi are preparing to leave Britain later this year with their two children, fed up with what Maria says is xenophobia and the rising cost of living in London. REUTERS/Alecsandra Dragoi SEARCH "DRAGOI MARIA" FOR THIS STORY. SEARCH "WIDER IMAGE" FOR ALL STORIES.

Adi, 37, who works for a removal company takes his daughter, Elena, who is two years and seven-months old, to nursery in London, Britain, February 7, 2019. Adi and Maria pay over £900 per month for Elena to attend four hours of nursery a day, five days a week. Adi and his wife Maria are preparing to leave Britain later this year with their two children, fed up with what Maria says is xenophobia and the rising cost of living in London. REUTERS/Alecsandra Dragoi SEARCH "DRAGOI MARIA" FOR THIS STORY. SEARCH "WIDER IMAGE" FOR ALL STORIES.

Elena, who is two years and seven-months old, and the eldest daughter of Maria and Adi, looks at animals during a visit with her aunt Nicoleta, 34, to the Venture Wildlife Park near London, Britain, February 12, 2019. Maria and Adi are preparing to leave Britain later this year with their two children, fed up with what Maria says is xenophobia and the rising cost of living in London. REUTERS/Alecsandra Dragoi SEARCH "DRAGOI MARIA" FOR THIS STORY. SEARCH "WIDER IMAGE" FOR ALL STORIES.

Adi, 37, who works for a removal company, and wife Maria, 31, take their daughters, Elena, who is two years and seven-months old and baby Ioana, who is less than a week old, for a walk in Hampstead Heath, near their home in London, Britain, February 3, 2019. Maria and Adi are preparing to leave Britain later this year with their two children, fed up with what Maria says is xenophobia and the rising cost of living in London. REUTERS/Alecsandra Dragoi SEARCH "DRAGOI MARIA" FOR THIS STORY. SEARCH "WIDER IMAGE" FOR ALL STORIES.

Adi, 37, who works for a removal company, and his wife Maria, 31, along with their daughters, Elena, who is two years and seven-months old, and baby Ioana who is a few weeks old, leave St Andrews church in Kingsbury after attending a service in London, Britain, February 22, 2019. Adi and Maria are preparing to leave Britain later this year with their two children, fed up with what Maria says is xenophobia and the rising cost of living in London.REUTERS/Alecsandra Dragoi SEARCH "DRAGOI MARIA" FOR THIS STORY. SEARCH "WIDER IMAGE" FOR ALL STORIES.

Berwyn, a neighbour of Maria and Adi who moved to the UK in the 1980s from Australia, holds their baby daughter Ioana, at their home in London, Britain, February 19, 2019. Berwyn has dual citizenship - Australian and Irish as she lived in Ireland for a few years before moving to Britain. She calls the family her 'dearest Christian Romanian friends'. Maria is now preparing to leave Britain later this year with her husband Adi and two children, fed up with what she says is xenophobia and the rising cost of living in London. REUTERS/Alecsandra Dragoi SEARCH "DRAGOI MARIA" FOR THIS STORY. SEARCH "WIDER IMAGE" FOR ALL STORIES.

Elena, who is two years and seven-months old, and the eldest daughter of Maria and Adi, holds up British passports belonging to her and her sister, at home in London, Britain, February 17, 2019. Both children have dual citizenship, but their parents do not want to apply for this despite having permanent residency in Britain. Maria, 31, and Adi, 37, are preparing to leave Britain later this year with their two children, fed up with what Maria says is xenophobia and the rising cost of living in London. REUTERS/Alecsandra Dragoi SEARCH "DRAGOI MARIA" FOR THIS STORY. SEARCH "WIDER IMAGE" FOR ALL STORIES.

Elena, who is two years and seven-months old, and the eldest daughter of Maria and Adi, plays in Hampstead Heath in London, Britain, February 3, 2019. Maria and Adi are preparing to leave Britain later this year with their two children, fed up with what Maria says is xenophobia and the rising cost of living in London. REUTERS/Alecsandra Dragoi SEARCH "DRAGOI MARIA" FOR THIS STORY. SEARCH "WIDER IMAGE" FOR ALL STORIES.

Adi (R), 37, works with his colleague Alexandru, who is also from Romania, for a removal company, in London, Britain, February 14, 2019. Adi and his wife Maria are preparing to leave Britain later this year with their two children, fed up with what Maria says is xenophobia and the rising cost of living in London. REUTERS/Alecsandra Dragoi SEARCH "DRAGOI MARIA" FOR THIS STORY. SEARCH "WIDER IMAGE" FOR ALL STORIES.

Adi, 37, who works for a removal company, and his wife Maria, 31, cook together at their home in London, Britain, February 22, 2019. Maria and Adi are preparing to leave Britain later this year with their two children, fed up with what Maria says is xenophobia and the rising cost of living in London. REUTERS/Alecsandra Dragoi SEARCH "DRAGOI MARIA" FOR THIS STORY. SEARCH "WIDER IMAGE" FOR ALL STORIES.

Maria, 31, carries her daughter Elena, who is two years and seven-months old, during a shopping trip in London, Britain, February 22, 2019. Maria and her husband Adi are preparing to leave Britain later this year with their two children, fed up with what Maria says is xenophobia and the rising cost of living in London. REUTERS/Alecsandra Dragoi SEARCH "DRAGOI MARIA" FOR THIS STORY. SEARCH "WIDER IMAGE" FOR ALL STORIES.

Religious pictures including a portrait of Arsenie Boca, a Romanian Orthodox monk, theologian and artist (top), hang on the wall at the home of Adi and Maria in London, Britain, February 17, 2019. Adi and Maria are preparing to leave Britain later this year with their two children, fed up with what Maria says is xenophobia and the rising cost of living in London. REUTERS/Alecsandra Dragoi SEARCH "DRAGOI MARIA" FOR THIS STORY. SEARCH "WIDER IMAGE" FOR ALL STORIES.

Maria, 31, holds her daughter Elena, who is two years and seven-months old, at their home in London, Britain, February 17, 2019. Maria and her husband Adi are preparing to leave Britain later this year with their two children, fed up with what Maria says is xenophobia and the rising cost of living in London. REUTERS/Alecsandra Dragoi SEARCH "DRAGOI MARIA" FOR THIS STORY. SEARCH "WIDER IMAGE" FOR ALL STORIES.

Adi, 37, who works for a removal company, prepares his daughter Elena, who is two years and seven-months old, for a trip to Hampstead Heath, at their home in London, Britain, February 3, 2019. Adi and his wife Maria are preparing to leave Britain later this year with their two children, fed up with what Maria says is xenophobia and the rising cost of living in London. REUTERS/Alecsandra Dragoi SEARCH "DRAGOI MARIA" FOR THIS STORY. SEARCH "WIDER IMAGE" FOR ALL STORIES.

A woman with her face painted in the colours of the Costa Rica and Nicaragua flag marches against acts of xenophobia in solidarity with Nicaraguan refugees who had to flee their country due to unrest in San Jose, Costa Rica August 25, 2018. REUTERS/Juan Carlos Ulate

A man holds a shirt which says "We need 400 people, Nicaragua free" during a march against acts of xenophobia in solidarity with Nicaraguan refugees who had to flee their country due to unrest in San Jose, Costa Rica August 25, 2018. REUTERS/Juan Carlos Ulate

A woman wearing a face mask with the Nicaraguan flag marches against acts of xenophobia in solidarity with Nicaraguan refugees who had to flee their country due to unrest in San Jose, Costa Rica August 25, 2018. REUTERS/Juan Carlos Ulate

A sign which reads "My country has no borders" is seen on a statue at La Democracia Square during a march against acts of xenophobia in solidarity with Nicaraguan refugees who had to flee their country due to unrest in San Jose, Costa Rica August 25, 2018. REUTERS/Juan Carlos Ulate

A woman cries during a march against acts of xenophobia in solidarity with Nicaraguan refugees who had to flee their country due to unrest in San Jose, Costa Rica August 25, 2018. REUTERS/Juan Carlos Ulate

A woman wearing a face mask with the Nicaraguan flag marches against acts of xenophobia in solidarity with Nicaraguan refugees who had to flee their country due to unrest in San Jose, Costa Rica August 25, 2018. REUTERS/Juan Carlos Ulate

A man holds a sign which reads "Against xenophobia and all kinds of discrimination" during a march against acts of xenophobia in solidarity with Nicaraguan refugees who had to flee their country due to unrest in San Jose, Costa Rica August 25, 2018. REUTERS/Juan Carlos Ulate

People hold a banner which reads "Solidarity with Nicaragua" during a march against acts of xenophobia in solidarity with Nicaraguan refugees who had to flee their country due to unrest in San Jose, Costa Rica August 25, 2018. REUTERS/Juan Carlos Ulate

People take part of march against acts of xenophobia in solidarity with Nicaraguan refugees who had to flee their country due to unrest in San Jose, Costa Rica August 25, 2018. REUTERS/Juan Carlos Ulate

People take part of march against acts of xenophobia in solidarity with Nicaraguan refugees who had to flee their country due to unrest in San Jose, Costa Rica August 25, 2018. REUTERS/Juan Carlos Ulate

A woman holds a sign which reads "Welcome refugees, we want to help you" during a march against acts of xenophobia in solidarity with Nicaraguan refugees who had to flee their country due to unrest in San Jose, Costa Rica August 25, 2018. REUTERS/Juan Carlos Ulate

A woman wearing a face mask with the Nicaraguan flag march against acts of xenophobia in solidarity with Nicaraguan refugees who had to flee their country due to unrest in San Jose, Costa Rica August 25, 2018. REUTERS/Juan Carlos Ulate

People march against acts of xenophobia in solidarity with Nicaraguan refugees who had to flee their country due to unrest in San Jose, Costa Rica August 25, 2018. REUTERS/Juan Carlos Ulate

People march against acts of xenophobia in solidarity with Nicaraguan refugees who had to flee their country due to unrest in San Jose, Costa Rica August 25, 2018. REUTERS/Juan Carlos Ulate

Demonstrators protest against the anti-immigration party Alternative fuer Deutschland (AfD) after German general election (Bundestagswahl) in Berlin, Germany, September 24, 2017. The poster reads "Xenophobia is not an alternative". REUTERS/Wolfgang Rattay

A woman places flowers on a train wagon during a memorial marking the 74th anniversary of the first deportation of Jews from Thessaloniki to Auschwitz, in Thessaloniki, Greece, March 19, 2017 REUTERS/Alexandros Avramidis

A demonstrators carries a sign reading "PVV - The party of free market policy and xenophobia" , during a march in Amsterdam, Netherlands, March 11, 2017. The PVV is the political party of Dutch far-right candidate Geert Wilders running in the Netherlands elections. REUTERS/Cris Toala Olivares

A demonstrators carries a sign reading "PVV - The party of free market policy and xenophobia" , during a march in Amsterdam, Netherlands, March 11, 2017. The PVV is the political party of Dutch far-right candidate Geet Wilders running in the Netherlands elections. REUTERS/Yves Herman

Immigrants hold rocks and a knife during clashes in Pretoria, South Africa, February 24, 2017. Police fired tear gas, water cannon and rubber bullets to disperse rival marches by hundreds of protesters in Pretoria on Friday, after mobs looted stores this week believed to belong to immigrants. REUTERS/ James Oatway

A man reacts to tear gas fired by police fire to disperse rival marches by hundreds of protesters, after mobs looted stores this week believed to belong to immigrants in Pretoria, South Africa, February 24, 2017. REUTERS/ James Oatway.

Somali immigrants hold rocks during clashes in Pretoria, South Africa, February 24, 2017. Police fired tear gas, water cannon and rubber bullets to disperse rival marches by hundreds of protesters in Pretoria on Friday, after mobs looted stores this week believed to belong to immigrants. REUTERS/ James Oatway.

Somali nationals argue with police during clashes in Pretoria, South Africa, February 24, 2017. Police fired tear gas, water cannon and rubber bullets to disperse rival marches by hundreds of protesters in Pretoria on Friday, after mobs looted stores this week believed to belong to immigrants. REUTERS/ James Oatway.