Child refugees

I think that the whole situation from day one has been mishandled, children will easily have got through along with adults. Their families have sent them in the heartfelt hope that they will be safe and secure from violence. We can't turn our backs.

You are right ww in that this is happening, so let's do something about it, if nobody else is , but I Find it hard to understand why so many( the figures if true, are large) can have slipped through the net in all those countries.

Where is the evidence that they are all teenagers?

Yes, we should help them, but so should France and Italy and Germany, and although they do have a load of adult immigrants, the question is why, if there are so many children,they would not have been put at the front of the queue for care?
It's a real question which needs to be asked, as children should always be cared for first.
Perhaps this is very complex, children being put into care, but then leaving on their own?

If they are really young then why on earth did the EU countries they arrived in not prioritise them? It seems bizarre if they are really wandering around on their own as continental Europe is very fond of children.

Does anyone know how many are tiny, or are the bulk teenagers? Nobody on tv seems to be saying.

It doesn't matter what should have been done, the fact is it isn't being done and we have all these tinies grieving for their mum, alone and frightened. I never thought I would ever see this again in Europe, but there we have it we have let us hope we can show how much we have progressed since WW2, civilisation and compassion is the key.

Oh Whitewave don't misunderstand me-it IS truly heart rending I agree but their plight should have been addressed before they ever got this far! Why does no one tell them to claim asylum where they first arrive or in France now? Why is England always seen as the "go to" country?

Oh newquay it breaks my heart to hear someone willing to reject these tiny ones, who are alone and subject to violence and worse. Maybe another country should have taken them in but they haven't. Imagine one of your grandchildren, alone, in a strange country, hiding in woods because they are frightened at what might happen to them. They are so tiny many of them all they know is that they want love, warmth food and security. They don't rationalise it in terms of who can or can't or indeed is willing to afford it.

Quite Whitewave and lam64. Of course it's appalling what's happening to these children BUT as the others have said we can barely support our own folks in need. Why have not the countries these children must have already passed through been made to accept. them esp the French where they are now? As usual they all want to come here-to fill our schools, hospitals, houses and receive our cash. We do not have an endless pit of money!
Charity begins at home.

Our local authority has £450 less to spend on each individual this year, thanks to the government cuts. We are an umbrella area for asylum seekers. I have no problem with that, though the lack of work/housing/general deprivation is an issue for all of us.
For the government to expect cash strapped LA's to provide the necessary services for these children with no financial support from central government is disgraceful.

He's good a making minimal commitments. Like the 20,000 Syrian "most vulnerable" refugees over the life of the parliament which is a very small number. And will also put a burden on LAs.
Many of the non vulnerable have qualifications and skills (IT, medicine etc) that are needed in our economy but I'm afraid Cameron is only worried about losing votes to UKIP.

Cameron has specified Syrians- which will exclude most of those in Calais.

Not promised any extra cash. He seems to be putting the onus on LAs - like they've got money to spare

Looks like all the pressure might have had an effect with Cameron saying yesterday he would allow some unaccompanied children in the EU to come to the UK. He has not said how many.

www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-36200366

The suffering of all these children is just too much for any decent human being to turn spa way from surely , the children in Palestine, Syria, Iraq, Afghanistan, refugee camps in Europe , yet so many do turn away from them .

All I can do is keep giving and keep praying, but I want to do more

signed.

Just signed, 69,476!

Listen to this child- watch his eyes

Imagine he is your grandson ...

www.facebook.com/431256660252368/videos/1029517463759615/

I am really looking forward to seeing this happen. However, history is against it.

www.migrationwatchuk.org/briefing-paper/374

This was in February.
Excuse my cynicism. I do so hope to be proved wrong.

One point, why was the number so important? Why would Cameron not accept 3000, but changed his mind when there was no number involved?

Not forgetting the foreign secretary said taking refugees in this country would lower our standard of living. Msy was correct about the nasty party

For those who haven't heard - the government has responded to pressure and is to take unaccompanied child refugees who are already in Europe. Thank you for signing the petition everyone.

Just watching the news - Hassan a young refugee - looked so much like my eldest GS imagine how his grandma must feel.

Oh what a lovely bit of news! All those dear little faces, pity the little children. At long last, all we need now is the resources, as that charmer Pickles seems to be suggesting there will be no extra money for LAs.

The care system in the UK isn't perfect by a long stretch but its important to remember that many children do better than they may have done if the state hadn't intervened. I won't go on but will say, don't let worries about the imperfect care system put you off signing the petition- these children need our help .