Children in Calais camp to arrive in Britain ‘in days’

BRITISH officials have begun registering child refugees at the Calais ‘Jungle’ camp so they can join relatives in the UK.

About 300 unaccompanied youngsters from countries such as Syria and Afghanistan are expected to arrive in Britain within days.

Home Office officials arrived at the Jungle on Friday and spent two hours registering children living in shipping containers.

It is understood they will return tomorrow.

Beatrice De Navacelle, 20, who works for the Care4Calais charity, said: ‘From what I heard from the people who were there, it wasn’t very well organised. These children are scared.’

There are believed to be up to 1,000 unaccompanied children living in the Jungle.

Home Secretary Amber Rudd said last week that it would be ‘a really good result’ if Britain ends up taking 300 lone child refugees from the camp.

It is understood that French authorities will start demolishing the Jungle next week. Up to 9,000 migrants are set to be relocated at centres throughout France.

A Home Office spokesman said: ‘Our priority must be to ensure the safety and security of the children in the Calais camp.

‘When the Prime Minister met the French Interior Minister last week she made it crystal clear we intend to transfer as many minors as possible who qualify for transfer to the UK to claim asylum on the basis of close family before the start of the camp clearance.

‘Work is continuing on both sides of the Channel to ensure this happens as a matter of urgency.’

EU law says refugees must make their claim for asylum in the first European state they reach, but children can transfer their application to another country if they have family there.

UK law also requires the Government to take lone refugee children.