Asylum-seeking children will spend Christmas in the borough
Dozens of refugee children will be spending their first Christmas in Merton after the council stepped in to offer help when the Calais Jungle camp was dispersed.
A total of 20 unaccompanied asylum-seeking children travelling alone have been given sanctuary in the borough with several more being placed here temporarily while they wait to move to other areas.
Merton has been the location where a further 30 children have been reunited with families who live all over the country.
Merton is among the London councils to have offered support to vulnerable children eligible to come to the UK under the Dublin III Treaty and Dubs’ amendment since October.
Latest figures show London boroughs are now looking after 60 Dubs children, 43 Dublin children who are thought to have family in the UK and 77 unaccompanied asylum-seeking children travelling alone. But the gradual arrival of more youngsters in recent days and weeks means the number has risen to more than 200 across the capital.
Cabinet member for children’s services, Councillor Katy Neep said: “We do everything we can to help young people in Merton and I am delighted that we continue to welcome those seeking asylum who now have a place to call home for Christmas.”
Councillor Claire Kober OBE, chair of London Councils, said: “Thanks to fantastic work by London boroughs who have tackled a very real humanitarian crisis, more than 200 vulnerable young people will spend Christmas in London.”
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December 21, 2016