Nichols calls on Government to ease plight of refugees

Ordinary people are being far more generous in their response to the refugee crisis than the Government, Cardinal Vincent Nichols said at a reception in Westminster on Wednesday, writes Elena Curti.

Cardinal Nichols told guests at a Catholic Social Action Network (CSAN) parliamentary reception that aid for Syrian refugees on the borders of the conflict was not enough.

“So much more needs to be done both in welcoming refugees here and across Europe to make the response to this crisis both better organised and monitored, thereby becoming more respectful of the dignity of those seeking help,” he said.

The cardinal commended the French charity, Secours Catholique, which is working with CSAN to ease the plight of 6,000 refugees living in the makeshift camp known as the “New Jungle” in Calais. The charity this week won a court action that obliges the French authorities to install 10 more water stations and 50 latrines at the camp.

“Next we will appeal to the court for better housing,” said Lola Schulmann who works for the French charity.