Dear members and supporters,
You will probably have seen in the news that the French Government is planning to clear the camp in Calais by the end of October. This includes the Jules Ferry Centre, which houses unaccompanied female minors and women with their children. At the moment it is unclear what support there is in place for more than a thousand children, most of them travelling alone. Last time there was an eviction in Calais, 129 children simply disappeared. The French Government appears to be relying on our Government to honour its commitment to take the 387 children eligible under the ‘Dubs Amendment’ (http://www.publications.parliament.uk/pa/ld201516/ldhansrd/text/160209-gc0001.htm) and the Dublin III family reunification agreement (http://www.citizensuk.org/family_reunification_the_story_so_far). However, to date no children have been brought over under the Dubs Amendment. Neither has either Government assisted in bringing children here under Dublin III. At least two of these children have died trying to reach family members because they simply lost faith in the official process. HWSF will be writing to the Leader of the Council to ask what plans there are in place to receive unaccompanied minors in Hertfordshire. In the meantime, there are several ways you can help.
Catherine and the HWSF Committee |
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