“It is now one year since the Government suspended Refugee Family Reunion – one of the few safe routes for child refugees to reunite with loved ones in the UK.

One year on, families are still waiting. Children are still separated from their parents. And the Government has still not given them certainty about the future of this vital safe route.

I know what it is like to be a child separated from family. And I know what being reunited means.

It’s an experience that has stayed with me throughout my life – and it’s why I wanted to share this message with you today.

The Prime Minister, Andy Burnham, is right to say that safe routes matter. But if the Government is serious about safe routes, it cannot keep shutting them down.

Closing safe routes does not stop children from needing protection. It leaves them with fewer safe choices – and risks forcing more children into the hands of traffickers and onto dangerous journeys because they have no safe alternative.

Last year over 3,200 unaccompanied children crossed the channel. Many of them simply wanted to reunite with their family but in order to do that were forced to take perilous journeys, and some drowned trying.

Behind every number is a child who deserves to be safe with their family.

Safe Passage will keep fighting to protect safe routes and bring refugee families back together.

If you can, will you join me in supporting their work with a donation today?

One year of waiting in limbo is already too long.

Families belong together. Safe routes save lives.

Thank you for standing with us.

In solidarity,

Alf Dubs