Theresa May has declined taking in more child refugees from the so-called Jungle migrant camp in Calais. French president François Hollande said that he had spoken to the British prime minister by telephone, stating that it was the UKs moral duty to take in unaccompanied minors.
According to reports, Hollande said he had spoken with May to make sure British authorities would accompany these minors to these centres and would play their part in subsequently welcoming them to the United Kingdom.
Their transfer to Britain is urgent, he added. We ask you to take your responsibilities and assume your moral duty by immediately organising their arrival.
Downing Street hit back, saying the UK has already received a considerable number of unaccompanied minors, with hundreds more children and young people coming in the next few weeks, according to the Guardian.
The UK government has so far taken in about 274 child refugees in October. At least 1,500 lone children have been staying at a container camp nearby.
Those who remain have not been provided food or water and are relying on volunteers for these basic needs, according to humanitarian charity, Help Refugees UK.
In Paris, around 2,500 migrants are sleeping on the streets of Paris, following the clearance of the Calais camp last week. Some are destined for the French capitals first official refugee camp which may open in the next few days.
The shelter for around 400 men was due to open in mid-October but was postponed to avoid overcrowding said Ian Brossat, the deputy mayor responsible for housing.
Hamid Hussein, a Sudanese who arrived in Paris from Calais recently, has been staying at a camp close to Stalingrad station. They will start calling this the Paris Jungle soon, he told the Telegraph.
It was getting too difficult to go to England from Calais. I will stay here while me and my friends work out a different way to go there. We dont want to stay in France.
