So it begins.
Via BBC:
British and French officials have begun registering unaccompanied children in the Calais “Jungle” who are hoping to join relatives in Britain.
A significant number of child refugees will arrive in the UK from the migrant camp within days, the BBC understands.
The Children’s Commissioner for England has previously said about 300 children in the camp, from countries like Syria and Afghanistan, will come to the UK.
French authorities have said they will close the camp by the end of the year.
It is estimated up to 10,000 people are living in the Jungle which is situated near the port of Calais, and close to the 31-mile Channel Tunnel.
Many of the migrants in northern France attempt to reach the UK by boarding lorries as they approach ports or the Channel Tunnel.
French President Francois Hollande wants to move the inhabitants it holds to reception centres across the country and demolish the camp.
Aid groups have raised concerns that the planned closure will lead to children disappearing before they are processed.
Home Office officials in Calais have been focusing first on unaccompanied minors who have the right to join relatives under EU legislation.
A separate registration process will take place for vulnerable children who do not have family in the UK.
Under EU-wide regulation, asylum claims must be made in the first safe country a person reaches, but children can have their claim transferred to another country if they have family members living there.
UK law also requires the government to arrange for the transfer to the UK and support of unaccompanied refugee children from Europe.