A PETERSFIELD charity that helps rehome Syrian refugees and lone children from the war torn Middle East is asking sympathisers to urge the government to do more.
The Rural Refugee Network (RRN) has helped house and support Syrian families in East Hampshire, and also helps child refugees that have lost their parents, or guardians.
The charity jointly founded by Julia Thistleton-Smith of Langrish believes more should be done for refugee children already here, and for those in refugee camps outside the UK.
Under an earlier agreement, Britain agreed to take in an unspecified number of children; the number to be resettled “as soon as possible” was to be determined “by the government in consultation with local authorities."
But RNN and other aid groups say not enough is being done to help the thousands of refugee children without a family.
Now RNN has joined a campaign urging people to write to, or email, MPs to enlist their support in a government debate on February 23 about the issue of refugee children.
RRN spokesman Emily Mott said: “It’s thought there are more than 10,000 refugee children in Europe in camps in inhumane conditions.
“Many of them, specifically those unaccompanied, are without any security, health care, or education, and with often with only the clothes on their back.
“They have fled war zones and drought areas, only to end up in makeshift camps, or sleeping rough without any protection, where they are extremely vulnerable to traffickers and all forms of modern slavery.
“Now more than ever we need to make our voices heard, so please contact your MP asking them to call for an immediate re-consultation on the number of refugee children the UK will accept.
“And although HCC has been supportive, half of the 15 children taken in by the council are living out of the county due to a lack of foster homes.
“So RNN and other groups are advocating increased support for both the children here and in the camps.”
To find out how to contact your MP visit the website, www.parliament.uk/get-involved/contact-your-mp