This morning we gathered outside the Home Office to remember and mark the death of three year old year old, Aylan Kurdi, who died when an inflatable boat that he and his family were fleeing Syria in capsized, and Aylan’s body was found washed up on a Turkish beach one year ago today. Since then, thousands more terrified and desperate refugees, including hundreds of children, have lost their lives trying to reach safety in Europe.
Faith leaders, councillors from four London boroughs and celebrities, spoke about their visit to the Calais refugee camp last week and told heartbreaking stories of their meetings with children whose trauma and despair were evident. Afghani boys had to leave because they were threatened by ISIS. Syrian children had escaped war and barrel-bombs and chemical gassing. Speakers presented a letter to the Home Office this morning and urged Home Secretary, Amber Rudd, to take immediate action and bring the 387 unaccompanied refugee children in Calais to Britain. 178 of these children have a legal right to be in the UK because they have close relatives in Britain, and many others have no family at all. This is a moral and human crisis. These children need to be protected and they need care.
The human rights organisation Liberty is organising a march in London to Welcome Refugees on September 17. To find out more and to show your solidarity and welcome to refugees in the UK click here: https://www.facebook.com/events/1563121147327378/