The new government is barely two days in, and they have just made it a priority to abandon child refugees. Boris Johnson’s new withdrawal bill – just passed by MPs today in parliament – has completely torn up protections for lone child refugees.
 
In the bill, he has removed a previous hard-won commitment to negotiate a new deal for family reunification for unaccompanied child refugees after Brexit. There is now no obligation for the UK government to even discuss child refugees with the EU as part of a withdrawal.
 
We had already begun our fight on the basis that only promising to negotiate a deal for child refugees after Brexit is not good enough. Now we have even further to go.
 
At the same time, the situation on the Greek islands is only getting worse. More than 7,000 people live in a camp designed for 648, on Samos island, and more than 17,000 people live in the camp designed for around 2,000 people on Lesvos island. Hundreds of people share one toilet. Sewage and rain run together through flimsy tents.
 
Thousands of unaccompanied minors – some as young as ten years old – are living in these dangerous conditions through a cold and wet winter. It does not have to be this way.
 
Please continue to share the petition, and please write to your new MPs, which you can do here: https://www.writetothem.com
 
Hannah and I are so incredibly lucky that we get to spend Christmas together, with each other and with our family. As you celebrate with your loved ones this festive season, please take a second to think of those who are separated from the ones they love.
 
Lastly – I am so proud of the community we have built up through this petition. Let’s use it for good, and keep fighting!
 
 
Love, peace and solidarity.
 
Melissa and Hannah xx