A government announcement to help more child refugees will do nothing for the 26,000 refugee children alone in Europe without their families.
The UK government must stop turning its back on the 26,000 child refugees who are alone in Europe without their families, charities have said.
Organisations have turned on the Home Office after it became clear today's announcement to offer asylum to more unaccompanied children from Syria and other conflict zone is not likely to extend to the children already in Europe.
Instead it will identify “exceptional cases” of children in camps in Syria and neighbouring countries who could benefit from relocation to the UK.
Charities, including Save the Children, however have reissued a call for the UK to take in 3,000 of the 26,000 young people who are already stranded in Europe.
It offers little hope to refugee children already in Europe, including the ones living in squalid camps like those in Calais and Dunkirk
The UK government did announce a £10 million fund to help these children in Europe, but it is not expected that this will extend to welcoming youngsters into the UK unless they already have relatives living here.
The fund will provide support including identifying children who are in need, providing safe places for at risk children to stay, data management to help trace children to their families, and services such as counselling and legal advice.
Steve Symonds, of Amnesty International UK, said that, while the announcements were a welcome “small step" forward, it would not help children stranded in camps like The Jungle in Calais.
"It offers little hope to refugee children already in Europe, including the ones living in squalid camps like those in Calais and Dunkirk, who don't have close family members in the UK," he said.
Gary Christie, Scottish Refugee Council’s (SRC) head of policy, said: “While this is a potential route to protection for some children, there is still a pressing need to help those children who have already reached Europe.
“Children who are on their own and travelling through Europe are vulnerable to the dangers of exposure to freezing winter conditions, exploitation and abuse. We urge the government to do more to help refugee children who are alone and at risk.”
The SRC works with children’s charity Aberlour to provide the Scottish Guardianship Service, a unique service designed to help young refugees who arrive in the UK without their families.
Humza Yousaf, the Scottish Government minister for Europe and International Development, said the existence of the service puts Scotland in a strong position to welcome more young refugees.
He has also called on the UK government to increase the number of refugees it is prepared to accept.
He said: "While it is obviously good news that some of the most vulnerable unaccompanied young people in refugee camps bordering Syria will be brought to safety in the UK, this is not nearly enough and will do nothing to address the very pressing issue of the 26,000 young people estimated to now be in Europe.
“Currently, we fund a unique to Scotland Scottish Guardianship Service which offers specific support with welfare and the immigration process to LAs and unaccompanied children. This service has accumulated a wealth of knowledge which would be invaluable to aid in the planning of services for the care and future wellbeing of this group of children.
“I urge the UK government to do more and increase the number of refugees they are prepared to accept, I reiterate - Scotland is willing to continue playing its part."
