Devon is to host a temporary respite facility for up to 70 young people from the refugee camp in Calais.
The French government this week began the process of closing down the so-called ‘Jungle’ and Whitehall has committed to taking in a number of the 1,300 unaccompanied children staying there.
The purpose of the temporary facility in Devon is to provide safe accommodation for these young people before they are reunited with family members or moved to other parts of the country.
‘These will be vulnerable young people. They will be frightened and they will be exhausted, and we as an authority have a statutory responsibility to support those that present in Devon,’ said cllr James McInnes, the council’s cabinet member with responsibility for children.
‘We are working with all our partners across the county to support the Home Office as part of this emergency response. These vulnerable young people’s privacy should be respected, as they are supported to help rebuild their lives.’
The accommodation, care provision, security and other arrangements are being commissioned directly via the Home Office.
Photo: Procyk Radek / Shutterstock.com
