Anger at plans to deport children to Afghanistan
By politics.co.uk staff
Migrant groups reacted furiously to plans to deport children back to Afghanistan today.
The UK Border Agency wants to set up £4 million ‘reintergration centres’ in Afghanistan, according to the Guardian, to which unaccompanied asylum seeker children can be sent.
The centres would help satisfy EU regulations insisting that unaccompanied child asylum seekers can only be deported where such reception centres are available.
Several European countries are thought to be considering a similar move.
“We work with many children who have fled Afghanistan in fear to seek protection in the UK,” said Caroline Slocock, chief executive of Refugee and Migrant Justice.
“They have often endured long, arduous and dangerous journeys to get here, and forcibly removing them to Kabul is likely to put their safety and welfare further at risk.
“The government cannot even guarantee a proper reception for these children in the UK, let alone in Kabul.”
