More than 70 cross-party MPs call on ministers to provide ‘life-saving’ sanctuary to child refugees

Tory MPs among those warning Priti Patel that closing legal routes to UK pushes children into arms of traffickers

Thousands of unaccompanied minors are currently in Greece without safe, long-term accommodation (Associated Press)

More than 70 cross-party MPs have called on the government to provide “life-saving” sanctuary to unaccompanied child refugees stranded on Greek islands.

A group of 75 politicians, including seven Conservative MPs, have signed a letter to home secretary Priti Patel warning that shutting down safe and legal routes to the UK was pushing youngsters into the arms of traffickers.

Thousands of unaccompanied minors are currently in Greece without safe, long-term accommodation, with many living in “inhumane and severely overcrowded” conditions and without access to specialist care.

The situation for child refugees in Greece was exacerbated in September when more than 12,000 people living in overcrowded conditions in the notorious Moria refugee camp were displaced after a fire broke out. Among those affected were 4,000 children, including over 407 unaccompanied minors.

Although there have been some evacuations, 7,300 people remain in Lesvos, where there is a lack of essential food, water and medical facilities available for this newly displaced population, in what the signatories describe as an “unprecedented disaster”.

Describing the situation as “urgent”, the letter to Ms Patel reads: “There is an immediate need to provide life-saving sanctuary in the UK to unaccompanied children, and children suffering from chronic and complex illnesses and their families."

The signatories, who include Tory MPs Desmond Swayne and Tracey Crouch, point out that 10 European governments have agreed to relocate unaccompanied minros from Greece, with 458 so far relocated.

The UK took in 480 unaccompanied minors from Europe under the Dubs Amendment, which was passed in May 2016, but the scheme has now ended, and the government has no other process for providing sanctuary for unaccompanied minors in Europe who do not have relatives in Britain.

“Now that the scheme has ended, and in light of recent events, there remains an urgent need to repeat the success of the Dubs Scheme and bring some of these line child refugees to a place of safety in the UK,” states the letter.

It highlights that 25 UK councils have pledged 1,440 places for child refugees from Europe, adding: “With support from the government, these councils and their communities are willing to welcome child refugees.”

Josie Naughton, founder of Choose Love, said that shutting down safe and legal routes into the UK was “pushing people into the arms of human traffickers and smugglers”.  

She added: “Unaccompanied child refugees are some of the most vulnerable people, who are being forced into situations that could result in exploitation and violence.  

“We urge the government to establish a second Dubs Scheme that would see the commitment to safely relocate child refugees to the UK. We need an immigration policy that puts people above politics.”

Liberal Democrat home affairs spokesperson Alistair Carmichael MP said: “The conditions in many of the refugee camps across Greece are unsafe and unfit for children. We wouldn’t leave our own children to live there, and we mustn’t leave these children there either.

“We cannot stand by and do nothing. The government must step up and do the right thing by bringing unaccompanied children to safety in the UK.”

A government spokesperson said: “After the devastating fires that destroyed the Moria migrant facility, the UK government responded in kind and provided specific humanitarian goods, including kitchen sets to nearly 2,000 vulnerable families to prepare and cook food, and solar lanterns to help them stay safe.

“Throughout the pandemic the UK has remained ready to receive those accepted for transfer under the Dublin III Regulation, including unaccompanied children. We remain in regular contact with sending Member States, including Greece, who are responsible for arranging transfers.

“We are fixing asylum system to make it firm and fair. It will be compassionate to those who need help and welcome people through safe and legal routes.”