Vulnerable children must be priority for 'one in, one out' deal

The first migrants were deported this morning from Greece under a deal struck between the EU and Turkey. For every Syrian returned to Turkey, another Syrian will be relocated to Europe under the so-called 'one in, one out' deal.

Johan Eldebo, Senior Humanitarian Adviser for World Vision UK, said: “Families who have risked their lives to flee war zones are resourceful people and shutting the door to Europe at the Greek border won’t stop desperate parents seeking sanctuary for their children.

"We’re worried that it may force families with limited survival options ‘off the grid’ into the hands of smugglers where no-one can help them.

"Now that the first movement of migrants is taking place, we need urgent assurances from everyone involved that the rights of those children will be at the heart of the EU-Turkey deal – assurances which we haven’t yet heard.

"Under the ‘one in, one out’ deal, we call for the most vulnerable to be selected first to come to Europe.”