PANAPRESS
Panafrican News Agency
Sudan: UK assists unaccompanied refugee children in Sudan
Khartoum, Sudan (PANA) - The UN refugee agency has welcomed a contribution of over 21 million Sudanese pounds (about 238,000 pounds sterling) by the British government to help separated refugee children in Sudan.
A press release by the office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) in Khartoum on Saturday said the money was to support the refugee agency for its assistance to unaccompanied or separated refugee children as part of wider efforts to address the growing challenge of refugee and migratory flows in the region.
“An increasing number of young refugees are leaving or transiting through Sudan, with the intention to reach Europe,” Mr. Mohammed Adar, UNHCR Representative in Sudan, was quoted by the release as arguing.
He said those refugees undertook extremely perilous journeys, resorting to smuggling networks, which put them at risk of trafficking.
Adar warned that the number of minors traveling alone was “a great source of concern to us” adding that those young refugees were extremely vulnerable and needed specific attention.
He expressed the UNHCR gratitude to the UK Government for its support, which, he said, would help UNHCR provide assistance to unaccompanied children.
James Sharp, Director for Migration at the UK Foreign and Commonwealth Office, said during his visit to Khartoum last week that the UK was pleased to be supporting this important work to help refugee communities in Khartoum, sheltering them from the risk of taking a perilous onward journey that could lead to trafficking, kidnap or death at sea.
-0- PANA MO/MA 5Dec2015
A press release by the office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) in Khartoum on Saturday said the money was to support the refugee agency for its assistance to unaccompanied or separated refugee children as part of wider efforts to address the growing challenge of refugee and migratory flows in the region.
“An increasing number of young refugees are leaving or transiting through Sudan, with the intention to reach Europe,” Mr. Mohammed Adar, UNHCR Representative in Sudan, was quoted by the release as arguing.
He said those refugees undertook extremely perilous journeys, resorting to smuggling networks, which put them at risk of trafficking.
Adar warned that the number of minors traveling alone was “a great source of concern to us” adding that those young refugees were extremely vulnerable and needed specific attention.
He expressed the UNHCR gratitude to the UK Government for its support, which, he said, would help UNHCR provide assistance to unaccompanied children.
James Sharp, Director for Migration at the UK Foreign and Commonwealth Office, said during his visit to Khartoum last week that the UK was pleased to be supporting this important work to help refugee communities in Khartoum, sheltering them from the risk of taking a perilous onward journey that could lead to trafficking, kidnap or death at sea.
-0- PANA MO/MA 5Dec2015
