Jonathan Arkush: ‘We must alleviate plight of child refugees’

Board of Deputies of British Jews President Jonathan Arkush has issued the following statement after peers voted to accept Lord Dubs’ amendment to allow 3,000 unaccompanied child refugees into the UK from Europe.  The House of Commons is to debate the issue on Monday.

He said: “It is a Jewish religious imperative to care for those who are alone and vulnerable.  It is not so long ago that Jewish children fleeing from war and persecution gained refuge in this country on the Kindertransports.  Lord Dubs was himself such a child.  The aim of bringing unaccompanied child refugees to this country is therefore laudable and we must make all reasonable efforts to alleviate their plight.”