Bishop urges UK government to help lone child refugees - a year after demolition of Calais Jungle

Eritrean child in Calais Jungle last summer - image: JS/ICN

Source: CCN/ICN

One year since the 'jungle' camp in Calais was demolished, the lead Catholic Bishop for migration and asylum has called on the UK government to do more to resettle unaccompanied child refugees.

Under the Dubs Amendment passed in Aprtil 2016 the British government pledged to take in 3,000 unaccompanied minors, but since that date only 350 young people were admitted. Campaigners report that thousands of chidren are languishing in camps in Greece and Italy, or sleeping rough on the north French coast

Bishop Paul McAleenan stated: "Pope Francis has called on us all to support young people who have been driven from their homes and separated from their families. It is a testament to our society that some unaccompanied child refugees have found sanctuary here, but there is still much more work to be done.

"Throughout Europe tens of thousands remain alone and vulnerable; we share a duty to ensure their safety and dignity. I encourage the government to continue accommodating more unaccompanied child refugees and work with our European partners to protect these young people from exploitation."

See also: ICN 8 February 2017 - UK government backtracks on promise to take child refugees www.indcatholicnews.com/news/31891