Downing Street has declared the "largest resettlement program in the world for children from the Middle East and North African region," by bringing 3,000 children to live in the UK.
A spokesperson for the Prime Minister David Cameron said the children would be those vulnerable to neglect and exploitation or abuse.
New Government scheme to resettle 'at risk' children from the Middle East and North Africa: https://t.co/Q8n2BxGMYq pic.twitter.com/cjtmPvKGy7
— Home Office (@ukhomeoffice) April 21, 2016
However, the announcement has been treated by some MPs and former ministers with skepticism.
Since September 2015, pressure has been mounting on the British government to resettle 3,000 refugee children already traveling alone through Europe. Unaccompanied minors are notoriously vulnerable to abuse and exploitation from human traffickers.
The situation in Europe where thousands of children remain stuck was described by an aid charity as "urgent."
Find out what you can do to help Syrian refugees at https://t.co/AE5zf2U78O pic.twitter.com/wiXo5GbyMH
— Home Office (@ukhomeoffice) April 21, 2016
Stephen Twigg, chair of the UK International Development Committee said: "Children are clearly some of the most vulnerable refugees this crisis has created.
"Having survived the treacherous journey; there is a grave possibility that unaccompanied children become the victims of people traffickers who force them into prostitution, child labor and the drugs trade. This is an issue of utmost urgency," Twigg said back in January 2016.
However the "urgent" issue of resettling child refugees from Europe has been superseded by the British government's decision to resettle youngsters from refugee camps further from European shores.
Former Labour minister Yvette Cooper said the announcement "includes nothing new to help the thousands of refugees alone in Europe, who are at risk of trafficking, sexual exploitation and abuse."
Gov't statement today has nothing new to help lone #childrefugees in Europe. Still need Dubs amendment on Mon https://t.co/H5TeYs68Bs
— Yvette Cooper (@YvetteCooperMP) April 21, 2016
Tim Farron, leader of the Liberal Democrat party said the announcement was "not good enough" and accused the Conservative government of making the refugee crisis a political not humanitarian issue.
"For them it is political not humanitarian… not a jot of compassion. This won't help any of the children I met in Idomeni or Lesbos and the thousands more languishing in European camps."
However, it appears charity does not begin at home in Europe, close to UK shores — but in refugee camps in the Middle East and North Africa.
It's estimated that 26,000 unaccompanied children entered Europe in 2015. It's believed 10,000 are missing and already feared to be in the hands of criminal gangs and people smugglers.