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Ministers urged to spell out details of plan for UK to take in Syrian children Ministers urged to spell out details of plan for UK to take in Syrian children
(about 1 hour later)
The government is under pressure to give more details of a £10m plan to take in more unaccompanied Syrian child refugees and to spell out precisely how many extra children Britain will take from Europe.The government is under pressure to give more details of a £10m plan to take in more unaccompanied Syrian child refugees and to spell out precisely how many extra children Britain will take from Europe.
Ministers have been under pressure from Save the Children and opposition parties to take 3,000 unaccompanied vulnerable children, in addition to the pre-existing commitment to take 20,000 refugees in the parliament.Ministers have been under pressure from Save the Children and opposition parties to take 3,000 unaccompanied vulnerable children, in addition to the pre-existing commitment to take 20,000 refugees in the parliament.
Kirsty McNeill, Save the Children campaigns director, welcomed the initiative and said the expected announcement would include “a significant new principle …that they do have a responsibility for children in Europe”.Kirsty McNeill, Save the Children campaigns director, welcomed the initiative and said the expected announcement would include “a significant new principle …that they do have a responsibility for children in Europe”.
The Home Office emphasised that the bulk of the children would come from refugee camps on the Syrian border.The Home Office emphasised that the bulk of the children would come from refugee camps on the Syrian border.
But McNeill said on BBC Radio 4 that she understood the government announcement would include a commitment to take some unaccompanied children currently in Italy and Greece if they had a connection with the UK. She claimed there were 26,000 unaccompanied children in Europe.But McNeill said on BBC Radio 4 that she understood the government announcement would include a commitment to take some unaccompanied children currently in Italy and Greece if they had a connection with the UK. She claimed there were 26,000 unaccompanied children in Europe.
The Liberal Democrat leader, Tim Farron, welcomed the announcement but said it would be a mistake if the majority of children ended up coming from the Syrian border camps.The Liberal Democrat leader, Tim Farron, welcomed the announcement but said it would be a mistake if the majority of children ended up coming from the Syrian border camps.
Labour’s former shadow home secretary Yvette Cooper said: “We have been campaigning for many months for the British government to help child refugees who are alone and vulnerable in Europe so this announcement is a very welcome step forward. And it is a tribute to Save the Children and everyone who joined the campaign that this progress has been made.”Labour’s former shadow home secretary Yvette Cooper said: “We have been campaigning for many months for the British government to help child refugees who are alone and vulnerable in Europe so this announcement is a very welcome step forward. And it is a tribute to Save the Children and everyone who joined the campaign that this progress has been made.”
The Home Office minister James Brokenshire said in an overnight press release that the government would work with the UNHCR to identify vulnerable lone children in camps that could be taken to the UK, and said the Department for International Development would provide £10m to charities and the United nations to help unaccompanied children in Europe.The Home Office minister James Brokenshire said in an overnight press release that the government would work with the UNHCR to identify vulnerable lone children in camps that could be taken to the UK, and said the Department for International Development would provide £10m to charities and the United nations to help unaccompanied children in Europe.
In addition ministers said they would help lone children in Europe to be reunited with their parents including by bringing them to the UK.In addition ministers said they would help lone children in Europe to be reunited with their parents including by bringing them to the UK.
The announcement comes hours after David Cameron was accused of using inflammatory language about refugees at prime minister’s questions, during which he referred to people in camps at Calais as a “bunch of migrants”. On Wednesday David Cameron was accused of using inflammatory language about refugees at prime minister’s questions, during which he referred to people in camps at Calais as a “bunch of migrants”.
Save the Children, Farron, and Cooper have all argued that Britain needs to make a special case for some of the unaccompanied child refugees in Europe as they are prey to human traffickers, prostitution or being used as a form of cheap labour. Save the Children, Farron and Cooper have all argued that Britain needs to make a special case for some of the unaccompanied child refugees in Europe as they are prey to human traffickers, prostitution or being used as a form of cheap labour.
As many as 1,000 unaccompanied child refugees disappeared in Italy alone last year, prompting calls for a modern day Kindertransport scheme similar to the one that saved many children in the second world war. In Italy alone last year as many as 1,000 unaccompanied child refugees disappeared, prompting calls for a modern-day Kindertransport scheme similar to the one that saved many children in the second world war.
A spokesman for the Home Office said it could not predict the precise number of children who would be helped by the scheme. Many will be allowed to come to the UK but in some cases the effort will be focused on reuniting them with their parents elsewhere in Europe. The Home Office said it could not predict the precise number of children who would be helped by the scheme. Many will be allowed to come to the UK but in some cases the effort will be focused on reuniting them with their parents elsewhere in Europe.
Ministers have promised to take 20,000 refugees over the course of the parliament under the vulnerable persons resettlement programme but exclusively from the UN-run camps near the border of Syria in Lebanon, Jordan and Turkey. So far 1,000 have arrived, of whom half are children. Ministers have promised to take 20,000 refugees over the course of the parliament under the vulnerable persons resettlement programme, but exclusively from UN-run camps near the border of Syria in Lebanon, Jordan and Turkey. So far 1,000 have arrived, of whom half are children.
The Home Office said the UNHCR were the experts working in the countries surrounding Syria and other conflict zones and would be “asked to identify exceptional cases of unaccompanied children whose needs cannot be met in the region and whose best interests would be met through protection in the UK”.The Home Office said the UNHCR were the experts working in the countries surrounding Syria and other conflict zones and would be “asked to identify exceptional cases of unaccompanied children whose needs cannot be met in the region and whose best interests would be met through protection in the UK”.
The Department for International Development will set up a £10m fund to include targeted support for unaccompanied children who face additional risks when they arrive in Europe. Support will probably be delivered through NGOs and UN agencies.The Department for International Development will set up a £10m fund to include targeted support for unaccompanied children who face additional risks when they arrive in Europe. Support will probably be delivered through NGOs and UN agencies.
In addition, the UK government will provide further resources to the European Asylum Support Office to help Greece and Italy identify migrants, including children, who could be reunited with family members elsewhere in Europe. If it is in their best interests, the family will be brought to the UK. In addition, the government will provide further resources to the European Asylum Support Office to help Greece and Italy identify migrants, including children, who could be reunited with family members elsewhere in Europe. If it is in their best interests, the family will be brought to the UK.
Cameron has argued that if Britain took large numbers of refugees who had already travelled to Europe, the country would be rewarding refugees who had left the camps and so, in the long term, make it harder for Syria to be rebuilt when the civil war ends. Cameron has argued that if Britain takes in large numbers of refugees who have already travelled to Europe, the country would be rewarding refugees who had left the camps and so, in the long term, make it harder for Syria to be rebuilt when the civil war ends.
The British approach has been condemned as paltry in comparison with the efforts of Germany but Cameron argues that Britain has provided £1.1bn for the vast refugee camps on the borders of Syria, more than any other country except the US. The British approach has been condemned as paltry in comparison with the efforts of Germany, but Cameron argues that Britain has provided £1.1bn for the vast refugee camps on the borders of Syria, more than any other country except the US.
Brokenshire said: “The UK government takes its responsibility in asylum cases involving children very seriously. Ensuring their welfare and safety is at the heart of every decision made.Brokenshire said: “The UK government takes its responsibility in asylum cases involving children very seriously. Ensuring their welfare and safety is at the heart of every decision made.
“The crisis in Syria and events in the Middle East, north Africa and beyond have separated a large number of refugee children from their families. The vast majority are better off staying in the region so they can be reunited with surviving family members.”“The crisis in Syria and events in the Middle East, north Africa and beyond have separated a large number of refugee children from their families. The vast majority are better off staying in the region so they can be reunited with surviving family members.”