This article is from the source 'guardian' and was first published or seen on . It last changed over 40 days ago and won't be checked again for changes.
You can find the current article at its original source at http://www.theguardian.com/world/live/2016/oct/24/calais-camp-riot-police-prepare-demolish-refugees-migrant
The article has changed 30 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.
Previous version
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
12
13
14
15
16
17
18
19
20
21
22
23
24
25
26
27
28
29
Next version
Version 20 | Version 21 |
---|---|
UK has taken nearly 200 child refugees from Calais camp, Rudd says – live | |
(35 minutes later) | |
5.28pm BST | |
17:28 | |
In a hint of disapproval at tabloid front pages which showed pictures of children arriving from Calais, Rudd said it was important the identities of those arriving “were not compromised.” | |
It’s crucial local authorities can manage the numbers coming here. It’s clear there is capacity to take the children from Calais as well as to meet our other commitments. | |
Rudd says there will be a need to identify further places for the children in the long-term. | |
She also announces £56m of funding to ensure the clearance operation is “full and lasting”. | |
5.25pm BST | |
17:25 | |
Rudd says UK officials have now interviewed 800 children, but the French government had previously requested that the UK did not transfer children without family links to Britain, which explains why campaigners had been frustrated at the delay. | |
This was due to their concerns that it would encourage more children to come to Calais. That’s why we focussed our efforts on Greece and Italy, where we have 50 cases in progress. | |
More children will arrive in the coming days and weeks, Rudd says. Three guiding principles will apply: prioritising those likely be granted asylum, the under-12s and those at a high risk of sexual exploitation. | |
Rudd says it is important more children are not encouraged to come to Calais. | |
She says the UK would *only* consider those present in the camp before the start of the clearance today. | |
Updated | |
at 5.27pm BST | |
5.19pm BST | |
17:19 | |
Amber Rudd says nearly 200 children, including 60 girls, transferred to UK | |
The home secretary says the clearance of the camp is in the national interests of both Britain and France. She says it is an important step in ending the crisis, protecting the UK border and making sure people in the camp are safe. | |
Officials have been working with French counterparts to make sure children are protected, Rudd said. There is also good progress in transferring children to the UK who have close family links to the UK, she said. | |
We have transferred almost 200 children, 60 girls at high risk of sexual exploitation, Rudd says. | |
This government has sought every opportunity to expedite the process to bring children to the UK. | |
My officials were only given access to the camp to interview children in the last week and we have only recently received agreement from the French government that we can bring Dubs Amendment children to the UK. | |
Rudd says it had not been possible to do so before, without French agreement. | |
Updated | |
at 5.22pm BST | |
5.08pm BST | |
17:08 | |
The home secretary, Amber Rudd, is about to give a statement to the House of Commons about unaccompanied children from the Calais camp coming to the UK. | |
My colleague Jessica Elgot will be here to tell us what Rudd says – and what she means. | |
Updated | |
at 5.13pm BST | |
4.50pm BST | 4.50pm BST |
16:50 | 16:50 |
Vanessa Redgrave has called on the government to give more money to councils to support refugee children arriving in the UK. | Vanessa Redgrave has called on the government to give more money to councils to support refugee children arriving in the UK. |
The actor, who was joined by her daughter Joely Richardson, was speaking at an event organised by Citizens UK to welcome the arrival of the first children under the Dubs amendment. | |
The 79-year-old said that while there was “huge momentum” to support the refugees, money was needed to help local authorities cope. | The 79-year-old said that while there was “huge momentum” to support the refugees, money was needed to help local authorities cope. |
London councils have announced they will take in more than 100 unaccompanied children under the Dubs amendment. | London councils have announced they will take in more than 100 unaccompanied children under the Dubs amendment. |
Redgrave joined about 200 campaigners, many wearing Paddington Bear masks, outside the Home Office in London to celebrate the arrival of the refugees. She said she was “very worried” about those left in Calais, where demolition of the refugee camp began on Monday. | Redgrave joined about 200 campaigners, many wearing Paddington Bear masks, outside the Home Office in London to celebrate the arrival of the refugees. She said she was “very worried” about those left in Calais, where demolition of the refugee camp began on Monday. |
Updated | Updated |
at 5.06pm BST | |
4.39pm BST | 4.39pm BST |
16:39 | 16:39 |
Ten girls from Ethiopia and Eritrea who have been brought to the UK under the Dubs amendment have been found homes in Hertfordshire, the Welwyn Hatfield Times reports. | Ten girls from Ethiopia and Eritrea who have been brought to the UK under the Dubs amendment have been found homes in Hertfordshire, the Welwyn Hatfield Times reports. |
Placements with foster carers across the county were found within a couple of hours of the girls arriving in the early hours of Sunday morning. | Placements with foster carers across the county were found within a couple of hours of the girls arriving in the early hours of Sunday morning. |
4.05pm BST | 4.05pm BST |
16:05 | 16:05 |
Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn has put out a video statement calling on ministers to honour the Dubs amendment. | Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn has put out a video statement calling on ministers to honour the Dubs amendment. |
“It must happen - and it must happen now,” he says. “Give those children a place of safety.” | “It must happen - and it must happen now,” he says. “Give those children a place of safety.” |
I urge the Government to fulfil the Dubs amendment and urgently bring vulnerable children to the UK, as Calais camp is being closed #DubsNow pic.twitter.com/KFBwCoieLx | I urge the Government to fulfil the Dubs amendment and urgently bring vulnerable children to the UK, as Calais camp is being closed #DubsNow pic.twitter.com/KFBwCoieLx |
Updated | Updated |
at 4.07pm BST | at 4.07pm BST |
3.50pm BST | 3.50pm BST |
15:50 | 15:50 |
Number of departures reaches 1,600 people | Number of departures reaches 1,600 people |
About 1,600 people have now left the camp in Calais today on 40 buses, BBC News reporter Simon Jones says. | About 1,600 people have now left the camp in Calais today on 40 buses, BBC News reporter Simon Jones says. |
That is considerably fewer than the 3,000 people who had been expected to be transported from the camp on Monday. | That is considerably fewer than the 3,000 people who had been expected to be transported from the camp on Monday. |
Prefecture says 1,600 people have left Calais on 40 buses. Operations appear to be winding down for the day. pic.twitter.com/AtFT5G1hZQ | Prefecture says 1,600 people have left Calais on 40 buses. Operations appear to be winding down for the day. pic.twitter.com/AtFT5G1hZQ |
3.45pm BST | 3.45pm BST |
15:45 | 15:45 |
It’s not always easy to see the bright side in situations as dire as this, but my colleague Lisa O’Carroll has spotted this gem at the camp. | It’s not always easy to see the bright side in situations as dire as this, but my colleague Lisa O’Carroll has spotted this gem at the camp. |
Someone with a sense of humor in Calais pic.twitter.com/0acGU9GhDw | Someone with a sense of humor in Calais pic.twitter.com/0acGU9GhDw |
3.31pm BST | 3.31pm BST |
15:31 | 15:31 |
One 16-year-old Eritrean, Daniel, spoke to Associated Press before heading to the registration centre in Calais with his cousin - also an unaccompanied minor. | One 16-year-old Eritrean, Daniel, spoke to Associated Press before heading to the registration centre in Calais with his cousin - also an unaccompanied minor. |
“I’m not happy because it’s finished, ‘the jungle’. I want to go to the UK,” he says. | “I’m not happy because it’s finished, ‘the jungle’. I want to go to the UK,” he says. |
In Calais for eight months, Daniel says he has tried daily to jump on trucks heading to Britain, like others in the camp. “I don’t want France,” he insists. | In Calais for eight months, Daniel says he has tried daily to jump on trucks heading to Britain, like others in the camp. “I don’t want France,” he insists. |
Updated | Updated |
at 3.43pm BST | at 3.43pm BST |
3.12pm BST | 3.12pm BST |
15:12 | 15:12 |
More from Devon, where dozens of unaccompanied children from Calais have been taken. | More from Devon, where dozens of unaccompanied children from Calais have been taken. |
Councillor James McInnes, Devon county council’s cabinet member with responsibility for children, described the situation as “very fluid”. | Councillor James McInnes, Devon county council’s cabinet member with responsibility for children, described the situation as “very fluid”. |
“We are told the turnaround of the children could be 72 hours but we are seeing already a very fluid situation,” he told the BBC. This is definitely a temporary facility that is in the heart of Devon that is been paid for by the Home Office. The county council is taking on its responsibility for the safeguarding of children that are presented in Devon.” | “We are told the turnaround of the children could be 72 hours but we are seeing already a very fluid situation,” he told the BBC. This is definitely a temporary facility that is in the heart of Devon that is been paid for by the Home Office. The county council is taking on its responsibility for the safeguarding of children that are presented in Devon.” |
Geoffrey Cox QC, MP for Torridge and West Devon, welcomed their arrival: | Geoffrey Cox QC, MP for Torridge and West Devon, welcomed their arrival: |
“I strongly believe that this country must respond compassionately to the plight of children caught up in the dangerous situation that has been allowed to develop in Calais. It is right that the county council has agreed to help and I have been assured by ministers that the council will receive all the financial and logistical support necessary to ensure that the services they need will be provided to these vulnerable young people while they wait to join their families already in the UK or to take up a permanent placement in the national transfer scheme.” | “I strongly believe that this country must respond compassionately to the plight of children caught up in the dangerous situation that has been allowed to develop in Calais. It is right that the county council has agreed to help and I have been assured by ministers that the council will receive all the financial and logistical support necessary to ensure that the services they need will be provided to these vulnerable young people while they wait to join their families already in the UK or to take up a permanent placement in the national transfer scheme.” |
Updated | Updated |
at 3.15pm BST | at 3.15pm BST |
2.51pm BST | 2.51pm BST |
14:51 | 14:51 |
2.47pm BST | 2.47pm BST |
14:47 | 14:47 |
Nearly 50 unaccompanied children 'stuck in Calais camp' | Nearly 50 unaccompanied children 'stuck in Calais camp' |
The charity help refugees have sent an update reporting that 49 children aged under 13 have been forced to remain in the Calais camp for another night after the Home Office was stopped from registering youngsters. Their statement says: | The charity help refugees have sent an update reporting that 49 children aged under 13 have been forced to remain in the Calais camp for another night after the Home Office was stopped from registering youngsters. Their statement says: |
Our team on the ground have informed us that The Home Office have not been allowed to register children today. As such, the most vulnerable group, the under 13’s (who would qualify under the Alf Dubs amendment) are being forced to remain in the Calais camp itself amidst all the confusion and chaos. | Our team on the ground have informed us that The Home Office have not been allowed to register children today. As such, the most vulnerable group, the under 13’s (who would qualify under the Alf Dubs amendment) are being forced to remain in the Calais camp itself amidst all the confusion and chaos. |
Our latest census shows there are 49 unaccompanied children in the Calais camp who are 13 years old or under. All are eligible under the Dubs amendment for resettlement in the UK. There are also many unaccompanied girls remaining in camp who are eligible to come to the UK but who were not registered over the weekend. | Our latest census shows there are 49 unaccompanied children in the Calais camp who are 13 years old or under. All are eligible under the Dubs amendment for resettlement in the UK. There are also many unaccompanied girls remaining in camp who are eligible to come to the UK but who were not registered over the weekend. |
The shipping containers on site in the Calais camp were emptied of residents at 7am this morning, on the understanding that unaccompanied minors would be housed there until they were properly processed (either sent to the UK under Dubs or family reunification, or suitable accommodation was found for them in France). | The shipping containers on site in the Calais camp were emptied of residents at 7am this morning, on the understanding that unaccompanied minors would be housed there until they were properly processed (either sent to the UK under Dubs or family reunification, or suitable accommodation was found for them in France). |
However, the minors already living in the containers were also asked to vacate this morning. Some of the children are being asked to go to the warehouse for registration to queue up to then be sent back to the containers. Others are being told registration has stopped for the day. | However, the minors already living in the containers were also asked to vacate this morning. Some of the children are being asked to go to the warehouse for registration to queue up to then be sent back to the containers. Others are being told registration has stopped for the day. |
This chaotic set up is extremely distressing and confusing for the lone minors, the youngest of which is 8 years old (according to our last census). The younger children are struggling to understand where they are supposed to go, and how they are supposed to get there. | This chaotic set up is extremely distressing and confusing for the lone minors, the youngest of which is 8 years old (according to our last census). The younger children are struggling to understand where they are supposed to go, and how they are supposed to get there. |
Up to a thousand children are expected to be housed in the shipping containers and at present it appears there is nothing in the way of youth workers or social workers to be responsible for, and help calm these young people and children. | Up to a thousand children are expected to be housed in the shipping containers and at present it appears there is nothing in the way of youth workers or social workers to be responsible for, and help calm these young people and children. |
Updated | Updated |
at 2.47pm BST | at 2.47pm BST |