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Calais Jungle: Unaccompanied children face another night outdoors


disorientated and cold

disorientated and cold

Volunteers working in Calais this evening have expressed concern over the plight of about 50 unaccompanied children who have still not been registered by the authorities and have nowhere to sleep for the second night in a row, after their shelters were destroyed.

Liz Clegg who is in Calais reports tonight that a group have now taken refuge in a local school and volunteers are supplying bedding and food. She writes: "The prefecture has said there 'may' be buses for these remaining in the camp tomorrow but there is no guarantee, it might be a case of the police stepping in tomorrow morning.

"Amongst the minors is a child of 16 who has registered with the Home Office under Dublin3. This means he has family in the UK. He is incredibly stressed, after being led to believe he was about to be helped to get to his family he is now being told at best he will be put on a bus tomorrow to an unknown destination."

"There are still significant numbers of people who the Fench have failed to register, who are now being treated as criminals. The press is no longer allowed in, to what looks like a war zone."

Liz continues: "We will try to update what happens in the morning. Tonight you can use social media to demand these men women and children are allowed to register, and access basic human needs and that all refugees with the right to apply for the UK are given the chance to access their legal rights."

Phil Kerton from Seeking Sanctuary sends this report from volunteer Emily Turner: "It's been a terrible day for the children, both registered and unregistered. The kids in the containers have witnessed fire and explosions and increased police presence. Some of the unregistered kids were arrested for not having a wristband and for being a 'criminal threat' (despite registration having closed). Others have been threatened with arrest, herded out of the jungle, waited for hours and then told to disperse (where on earth to?). Once again, around 50 kids faced another night without shelter. Totally shocking.

"At one point it was looking pretty desperate, but volunteers, NGOs and INGOs managed to work with the authorities to find shelter for these kids and volunteers remain on the ground tonight to watch out for them. These teams are exhausted but without their efforts, the kids would be at serious risk."

Liz asks readers to share news and updates on Facebook www.facebook.com/RefugeeInfoBus/?pnref=story and Twitter: https://twitter.com/RefugeeInfoBus) and https://twitter.com/HelpRefugeesUK who are both sharing almost live updates. Yvette Cooper, Caroline Lucas and Stella Creasy are also tweeting about Calais.

She also appeals for readers to email MPs: Your local one, Amber Rudd, Theresa May. See: www.writetothem.com/

Seeking Sanctuary is continuing to organise basic humanitarian assistance with faith communities and community organisations in partnership with experienced aid agencies in Calais and Dunkirk. For further information on how you or your organisation can help contact Ben Bano on 07887 651117 or Phil Kerton on 01474 873802 and visit www.seekingsanctuary.weebly.com

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