Child Refugees at Risk

We are shocked and saddened to share this terrible news today.

Since it was announced that the home office has halted transfers of children to the UK, with still more than 1,000 vulnerable minors left stranded around France, we have been speaking on a daily basis to children who are shocked and despairing. They do not understand why their route to safety is blocked, and as a result many are leaving the relative safety of the French reception centres with nowhere to go. In Calais and in Paris children are sleeping in the streets, leaving them vulnerable to trafficking and other unthinkable dangers. Those who remain in the French centres have told us of attempted suicides and self-harm.

The process for children to seek transfer to the UK has been non-transparent and arbitrary, the Home Office has not put children’s’ best interests first in its actions. Today’s news is a tragedy. Our government must act now to prevent further news like this.

Read Samir’s story on the Independent website.