Lily Allen breaks down in tears over Calais child refugees
Lily Allen broke down in tears and apologised on behalf of the UK after meeting a stranded Afghan teenager in the Calais refugee camp.
The unnamed 13-year-old is one of the 1,000 unaccompanied children who has been left to fend for himself in the Calais "Jungle" as a result of bureaucracy, according to a British Red Cross report.
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He told Allen that his father lives in Birmingham, giving him the legal right to cross the Channel and claim asylum in the UK. But it currently takes 10-11 months to process his case, causing many children -- including the Afghan teen -- to try to cross the border by stowing away on lorries.
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Allen, visibly touched by his story, told the BBC's Victoria Derbyshire programme:
"At three points in your life [the UK] has put you in danger. We bombed your country, put you in the hands of the Taliban, and now put you in danger of risking your life to get into our country."
After breaking down into tears, she added: "I apologise on behalf of my country, for what we've put you through." The teenager responds: "It's all right."
The teen, who didn't want to give his name, said he reached Calais after fleeing the Taliban in his home country.
Home Secretary Amber Rudd has pledged to take action within "a matter of days" to bring refugee children to the UK.
"I think as human beings we have a responsibility to help those who are suffering," Allen, who had never visited a refugee camp before, said.
In the BBC video, she's seen unloading a case of donations that her children asked her to give the migrants - including a Snow White costume.
The Calais "Jungle" is due to be dismantled by the end of the year as promised by French President Francois Hollande. Migrants will be moved to reception centres across the country.
