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Lily Caprani, Deputy Executive Director at Unicef UK commented on the government’s response to the Urgent Question posed by Tim Farron on the Dubs scheme which revealed that only 200 unaccompanied refugee children have been transferred to the UK

“It’s unacceptable that we have seen no children brought under the Dubs scheme this year. As a nation we showed our compassion, and our principles when we helped refugee children stranded in Calais but we were told this was not the end of the story. We are seeing too many children still having to make dangerous journeys to reach safety.  It’s time for a sustainable solution. The Government must change the UK family reunion rules so that children do not have to attempt to reach Europe to be reunited with loved ones. This simple move would save lives”

Background Information

• 200 children have been transferred to the UK under Dubs in 2016. Home Office have said 280 spaces remain to be filled for this scheme.
• We are not aware of any children who have been transferred to the UK through the Dubs Scheme in 2017.
• The Italian, Greek and French Governments are struggling to find eligible children due to the tight parameters drawn by the UK Government, particularly the cut-off date requiring the child to have arrived before 20 March 2016 (now 16 months ago).
• At the same time, the EU-based route to family reunion, which has had severe delays, is likely to close when the UK leaves the EU. Over 700 children were reunited with their families in the UK last year under this scheme.
• If we lose this route there will be no legal options for most children to reach their close family beyond their parents, something not possible for many children who have lost their parents in conflict.

For more information and interviews please contact:

Lilly Carlisle, 44 (0)207 375 6212 or lillyc@unicef.org.uk

Unicef UK Media Team, +44 (0)207 375 6030, media@unicef.org.uk

About Unicef

Unicef is the world’s leading organisation for children, promoting the rights and wellbeing of every child, in everything we do. Together with our partners, we work in 190 countries and territories to translate that commitment into practical action, focusing special effort on reaching the most vulnerable and excluded children, to the benefit of all children, everywhere. Unicef UK raises funds to protect children in danger, transform their lives and build a safer world for tomorrow’s children. As a registered charity we raise funds through donations from individuals, organisations and companies and we lobby and campaign to keep children safe. Unicef UK also runs programmes in schools, hospitals and with local authorities in the UK. For more information please visit unicef.org.uk