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Sunday, October 9, 2016

Religious leaders urge PM to let migrant children in 'Jungle' into UK

Religious leaders have called on Theresa May to allow nearly 400 children living in the 'Jungle' migrant camp in Calais to enter the UK.
In an open letter to the Prime Minister organised by the charity Citizens UK, senior figures from Christian, Muslim and Jewish faiths label the camp a "stain" on the consciences of Britain and France.
Two migrants childs from Irak look through the window in the southern part of a camp for migrants called the "jungle", in Calais, northern France, February 25, 2016. The administrative tribunal in regional capital Lille was to decide whether closing part of the site would violate human rights after several local charities and migrants requested a temporary injunction to halt the planned evacuation. REUTERS/Pascal Rossignol ATTENTION EDITORS - FRENCH LAW FORBIDS THE PUBLICATION OF FACES OF MINORS
Image Caption:Iraqi children peer through the window of a caravan in the 'Jungle' camp
The letter says the child migrants, the youngest of whom is eight, have "fled conflict and persecution, are now stuck in Northern France, deeply traumatised and at great risk as well documented by the anti-slavery commissioner you yourself appointed while Home Secretary".
It comes after French president Francois Hollande announced the camp would be bulldozed before Christmas, with its 9,000 inhabitants dispersed around the country, a move welcomed by residents of Calais but which has caused disquiet elsewhere. 
Demonstrators took to the streets in several towns across France at the weekend to protest against Hollande's plan.
A young migrant pulls a trolley in a muddy field at a camp of makeshift shelters for migrants and asylum-seekers from Iraq, Kurdistan, Iran and Syria, called the Grande Synthe jungle, near Calais, France, February 3, 2016. European Union countries on Wednesday approved a 3 billion euro ($3.32 billion) fund for Turkey to improve living conditions for refugees there in exchange for Ankara ensuring fewer of them migrate on to Europe. REUTERS/Yves Herman
Image Caption:A young migrant pulls a trolley at a camp known as the Grande Synthe Jungle, near Dunkirk
About 250 people marched in Forges-les-Bains, 30km (18 miles) southwest of Paris, against a migrant reception centre which opened on Monday.
In Pierrefeu-du-Var, southern France, the Front National party staged an anti-migrant protest that drew about 650 supporters.
It was revealed last month that no children have yet been helped to leave the camp despite changes to Britain's Immigration Act four months ago which were meant to assist them.
Labour peer Lord Dubs made the revelation during a tour of the camp during which he told Sky News: "There are 800 unaccompanied children in this camp and 387 now have the right to go to Britain, but not one has.
"I'm appalled and I'm terribly disappointed. I'll be meeting with the new immigration minister soon and I will be bringing this up. We can't keep doing nothing."
Iraqi migrants Ibrahim, his wife Ashty, their children Mandy (L) and Muhammad (R) pose outside their caravan in the "New Jungle" make-shift camp as unseasonably cool temperatures arrive in Calais, northern France, October 15, 2015. More than 3,500 people, migrants and refugees are camped in Calais, fleeing war and poverty in the Middle East, Africa and Asia and now living in the jungle. Most of them are hoping to make the crossing to England. REUTERS/Philippe Wojazer TPX IMAGES OF THE DAY
Image Caption:Iraqi migrants Ibrahim, his wife Ashty and their children Mandy (L) and Muhammad (R) pose outside their caravan in the camp
Britain's anti-slavery commissioner, Kevin Hyland, recently warned that children in the camp were risking their lives dealing with smuggling gangs after failing to enter Britain through the tradition route of claiming asylum.
A Home Office spokeswoman said: "The clearance of the camp in Calais is a matter for the French authorities, who also have primary responsibility for unaccompanied children in France. 
"The UK government has no jurisdiction to operate on French territory and can only contribute in ways agreed with the French authorities and in compliance with French and EU law."
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