Children in Calais Jungle to arrive in United Kingdom 'in days'
- by Leah Brady
- in Worldwide
- — Oct 16, 2016
Earlier this year French authorities cleared shelters in parts of the site in a bid to persuade migrants to move into other accommodation or neighbouring camps on the northern coast.
Under European Union rules, asylum seekers must make a claim in the first country they reach, but unaccompanied children can have their applications examined in another country if, for example, they have relatives there.
Aid groups have raised concerns that the planned closure will result in kids before they're processed vanishing.
The Children's Commissioner for England has formerly said about 300 kids in the camp, from nations like Syria and Afghanistan, will come to the UK.
But many children, like Nasir, are unaware that they may qualify to have their asylum claim heard in Britain.
"It is also crucial to pay special attention to the estimated more than 1,200 unaccompanied or separated children in the 'Jungle, ' whose best interests have to be taken into account, making arrangements such as special reception centres to ensure their safety and welfare when the site is closed", the spokesperson said.
British officials have begun registering child refugees at the Calais "Jungle" camp so they can join relatives in the UK.
Documents lodged in the high court on Friday criticise the government for failing to deliver an actual process to facilitate the transfer of child refugees under the Dublin regulation, effectively forcing charities and volunteers to do the government's job by carrying out the necessary legal and logistical work.
As Syria's war rages, US and Russia back at diplomatic table
He says some ideas "might be able to shape different approaches" toward a peace process in Syria. Two ceasefire deals brokered by the world powers in February and mid-September both collapsed.
Edwards said it was also crucial to ensure lone children in Calais were supervised during the demolition, as they are vulnerable to being trafficked, abused or exploited.
Due to the constant complaints by the local population, in early September the government promised to dismantle the camp definitively before the end of 2016.
But questions remain about what will happen to those without family ties in the UK.
He added that town halls "also require long-term funding arrangements from government so that the commitment to support those children starting a new life in the United Kingdom is properly funded".
"Work is being undertaken on schedule and should be finished by the year's end", said the Calais prefecture spokesman of the $3m structure, which Britain has agreed to finance. "The UK government has no authority in France".
She added: "The primary responsibility (for the children involved). lies with the French authorities".
Britain's Home Office says that small groups of children have been coming on a weekly basis for the last few months.
