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Transfer of refugee children to the UK on hold as Calais is cleared Transfer of refugee children to the UK on hold as Calais is cleared
(35 minutes later)
The transfer of refugee children from Calais to Britain has been paused while the clearance of the camp is under way, the Home Office has announced.The transfer of refugee children from Calais to Britain has been paused while the clearance of the camp is under way, the Home Office has announced.
Officials declined to say when the transfers might resume, but the charity Citizens UK said there were up to 1,000 unaccompanied children, many with the right to sanctuary in Britain, before the clearance operation began on Monday.Officials declined to say when the transfers might resume, but the charity Citizens UK said there were up to 1,000 unaccompanied children, many with the right to sanctuary in Britain, before the clearance operation began on Monday.
Citizens UK also said 235 children had been brought to Britain, including those who have family links to the UK as well as the first of the vulnerable children to be brought to Britain under the Dubs amendment.Citizens UK also said 235 children had been brought to Britain, including those who have family links to the UK as well as the first of the vulnerable children to be brought to Britain under the Dubs amendment.
“Due to planned operational activity in Calais, and at the request of the French authorities, we have reluctantly agreed that the transfer process will be temporarily paused,” a Home Office spokesperson said on Monday.“Due to planned operational activity in Calais, and at the request of the French authorities, we have reluctantly agreed that the transfer process will be temporarily paused,” a Home Office spokesperson said on Monday.
The home secretary, Amber Rudd, is expected to give some indication of how the situation in Calais is expected to unfold when she updates MPs in the Commons later on Monday afternoon. The home secretary, Amber Rudd, is expected to give some indication of how the situation in Calais is expected to unfold when she updates MPs in the House of Commons later on Monday afternoon.
Rabbi Janet Darley, a leader with Citizens UK, said Monday was a critical day for the children of Calais. “We will be doing everything we can to support the French to wind up the camp in a safe way,” she said, “but this means every single child must be accounted for and transferred to safe accommodation before the end of the day. We cannot have a situation where children are stuck in limbo as night falls.Rabbi Janet Darley, a leader with Citizens UK, said Monday was a critical day for the children of Calais. “We will be doing everything we can to support the French to wind up the camp in a safe way,” she said, “but this means every single child must be accounted for and transferred to safe accommodation before the end of the day. We cannot have a situation where children are stuck in limbo as night falls.
“As many as 1,000 children, including many with a right to seek sanctuary in Britain are still in the Calais camp. The disappearance of any of those children in the coming days would be a moral failure for us all.” “As many as 1,000 children, including many with a right to seek sanctuary in Britain, are still in the Calais camp. The disappearance of any of those children in the coming days would be a moral failure for us all.”
The chair of the Commons home affairs select committee, Yvette Cooper, said she was really worried that Britain had left it far too late to bring vulnerable lone children to the UK and that there was still no proper plan. The chair of the Commons home affairs select committee, Yvette Cooper, said she was worried that Britain had left it far too late to bring vulnerable lone children to the UK and that there was still no proper plan.
“There are still hundreds of children and teenagers stuck in the camp and the French authorities have not put in place proper alternatives of places for the children to go that are safe. That’s why it’s right Britain should be doing its bit as well,” she said.“There are still hundreds of children and teenagers stuck in the camp and the French authorities have not put in place proper alternatives of places for the children to go that are safe. That’s why it’s right Britain should be doing its bit as well,” she said.
“There has to be a plan between both France and Britain to help the children and teenagers right now. I really worry that Britain left this far, far too late to do its bit in terms of helping the children and teenagers. But the French authorities have also continually failed to provide that support.”“There has to be a plan between both France and Britain to help the children and teenagers right now. I really worry that Britain left this far, far too late to do its bit in terms of helping the children and teenagers. But the French authorities have also continually failed to provide that support.”
She underlined the concern of charities that children in the camp will now go missing. “That’s what’s really worrying. Once the clearances start, we know that there is a significant risk that many of those children and young people disappear. That is what happened last time when part of the camp was closed without a plan for the children and teenagers,” she added. She underlined the concern of charities that children in the camp would go missing. “That’s what’s really worrying. Once the clearances start, we know that there is a significant risk that many of those children and young people disappear. That is what happened last time when part of the camp was closed without a plan for the children and teenagers,” she added.
“And the consequence is they slip into the arms of the smuggler gangs, the traffickers. Just at the point at which they might have been able to be reunited with their family, then they are lost.”“And the consequence is they slip into the arms of the smuggler gangs, the traffickers. Just at the point at which they might have been able to be reunited with their family, then they are lost.”
Cooper called for a safe, legal route to be opened for those with family links in Britain.Cooper called for a safe, legal route to be opened for those with family links in Britain.
The Conservatie MP for Dover, Charlie Elphicke, approved of the dismantling of the Calais camp, telling LBC radio: “I welcome the fact that action’s been taken. It should never have got to this stage.The Conservatie MP for Dover, Charlie Elphicke, approved of the dismantling of the Calais camp, telling LBC radio: “I welcome the fact that action’s been taken. It should never have got to this stage.
“The camp’s worse than a shanty town in Rio or Africa – it’s an affront to humanity. You’ve got 10,000 people living in the most appalling squalor, there’s no running water or sanitation, people traffickers roam free, feasting on the dreams people have of a better life when all they sell is broken promises and a life of modern slavery.“The camp’s worse than a shanty town in Rio or Africa – it’s an affront to humanity. You’ve got 10,000 people living in the most appalling squalor, there’s no running water or sanitation, people traffickers roam free, feasting on the dreams people have of a better life when all they sell is broken promises and a life of modern slavery.
“The only reason they’re there is because this is the first border in the whole of Europe. This is a terrible situation for Calais, and a dangerous situation for the whole of Europe.“The only reason they’re there is because this is the first border in the whole of Europe. This is a terrible situation for Calais, and a dangerous situation for the whole of Europe.
“We’re leaving the European Union, but not Europe physically or culturally. That’s why it’s so important we continue to work with the French positively in order to ensure border security for both Dover and Calais.”“We’re leaving the European Union, but not Europe physically or culturally. That’s why it’s so important we continue to work with the French positively in order to ensure border security for both Dover and Calais.”