A delegation from Sheffield’s Stand Up To Racism campaign have returned from Calais after delivering aid to destitute refugees. The aid workers, including city councillor Zahira Naz, distributed warm clothing and other donated items. Baillor Jalloh reports for Sheffield Live!
Stuart Crossthwaite, general secretary of the South Yorkshire Migration, Asylum and Action Group has warned of chaos from closing the ‘Jungle’ migrant camp in Calais. More than a thousand police and officials in France have been engaged in clearing the camp which has housed at least 7,000 people. The UK has now begun to accept some of the estimated 1300 unaccompanied children from the camp. The first group without family ties to the UK has arrived in Britain under the “Dubs amendment” rules, which grant refuge to the most vulnerable.
Protestors gathered outside Sheffield train station on Friday to call for the UK to provide more support in accepting child refugees from the Jungle camp in Calais. The peaceful demonstration was designed to raise awareness of the plight of refugee children. Children’s shoes were lined up outside the station to symbolise the young refugees in need and protestors lit candles and waved banners. A similar protest was also organised in Barnsley. Sheffield Live! reporter Baillor Jalloh spoke to Val Huzzard from Sheffield Donations for Refugees.