Lord Roberts: UK must act on unaccompanied asylum seeking children before harsh winter
3 min read
Lord Roberts of Llandudno follows up his question in the House of Lords on 'Reuniting children in the camps of Calais and Dunkirk with their families in the UK'.
The Liberal Democrats have long campaigned for the Government to accept vulnerable refugee children to the United Kingdom. Tim Farron was one of the first to raise the issue in Parliament.
A year ago Save the Children called for the UK to take 3,000 vulnerable child refugees who had arrived in Europe – our fair share. We saw pictures of their suffering, making perilous journeys across the Mediterranean in dinghies unworthy of the name. So many have died, like Alan Kurdi whose lifeless body washed up on the Turkish beach and moved the world, changing the debate overnight.
Questions were asked with little positive response. A joint cross-party effort succeeded in putting into legislation a commitment from the government to offer sanctuary for unaccompanied refugee children. However, with the number remaining unspecified after a tussle with Government it remains to be seen just how compassionate Britain will be.
In July the Government revealed that the UK had accepted more than 50 requests from France under the Dublin regulations to take care of asylum-seeking children on family unity grounds. More than 40 children had been transferred to the UK, and more than 20 who meet the criteria under the Immigration Act 2016 have been accepted for transfer to the UK since Royal Assent in May.
In August they revealed that “around 20” have arrived in the UK. Only 20! Words fail me! This is the biggest refugee crisis the world has ever faced. There are over 90,000 unaccompanied child refugees in Europe alone and the best we can do is offer 20 a home in the UK?
This Government gives no indication of a desire to welcome young refugees and live up to the spirit of the legislation that was passed with huge public support.
The new Home Secretary cannot continue to turn a blind-eye to the human suffering on our doorstep. With a harsh winter ahead now must be the time to act.
I have asked the Government for a more positive response. We are told that there around 380 unaccompanied asylum seeking children still in Calais. The camps are facing food and water shortages and regardless are no place for kids. Every extra day they spend in the camps there is another day that they are left exposed to exploitation and those who would take advantage of them. With family members in the UK they have a right to come here, and we should fulfil our basic humanitarian duties and welcome them.
The Lord Roberts of Llandudno is a Liberal Democrat peer
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