Britain might take in refugee children who have been displaced by the war in Syria and have travelled to other countries in Europe, a government minister said on Sunday.
International Development Secretary Justine Greening said the government was considering whether it could do more for the estimated 3,000 children who have fled the conflict without their parents or guardians and are in Europe.
Asked whether the UK government was close to agreeing to calls from relief groups for Britain to admit the children, Ms Greening told Sky News television: “That’s what we are doing and I think that is the right thing.”
UK prime minister David Cameron has previously said Britain would accept 20,000 refugees over the next five years from camps in the Middle East, as opposed to those who have already made it to Europe.
Critics say that response has been meagre when compared with the 1.1 million asylum seekers who arrived in Germany last year. Campaign groups and more than 80 Church of England bishops have urged Cameron to do more.
Yvette Cooper, chairwoman of the UK Labour party’s refugee taskforce said: “It’s good news that the government seems to be responding to the call by Save the Children with cross party support to help 3,000 unaccompanied refugee children. But we are hearing some concern that the Government may only be planning to help children within camps near Syria, and excluding those alone in Europe.”
Ms Cooper warned thousands of children alone in Europe were at “terrible risk of abuse and harm”.
She added: “Providing refuge to 3,000 of these children in Europe is what Save the Children have called for and is what the amendment by Labour’s Alf Dubs in the House of Lords would put into effect. Any action by the Government must help children in Europe. I hope the Government will heed these calls and announce help for child refugees alone in Europe this week.”
Shadow home secretary Andy Burnham, claimed Mr Cameron had “left Britain looking blinkered and selfish”.
He said: “Just miles from our own doorstep, there are hundreds of refugee children in makeshift French camps living alone in abhorrent conditions. Britain can, and should, be doing more to give those kids a place of safety and I believe the vast majority of people here would support it.”
He added: “If Britain were to show willing and work with other European countries to address this crisis, the prime minister would most probably get a better hearing from EU partners on his demands on free movement in advance of the referendum.”
Agencies