CHILD refugees will be given sanctuary in Southend following a passionate plea from a 15-year-old Syrian girl.

Councillors pledged to allow three refugees each year to come to the borough following an appeal from 45 faith leaders in Southend from across the religious spectrum.

The teenager, who has been living in Southend for two years after fleeing war, asked the council to join the Our Turn campaign, before receiving a round of applause.

She said: “I am a 15-year-old refugee from Aleppo in Syria and I have been welcomed and cared for in Southend over the last two years because of a decision made in this room not long before that.

“I cannot tell you how grateful I am for this welcome.

“A little over three years ago, Alan Kurdi, a three-year-old Syrian refugee, drowned because he had no safe and legal route to sanctuary in Europe.

“The lives of more than 9,000 people fleeing war and persecution have been lost in the Mediterranean since that little boy’s death.

“This autumn Britain will commemorate a more hopeful anniversary.

“Eighty years ago, the UK Government launched the Kindertransport rescue operation that saved 10,000 refugee children from Nazi persecution.

“The Archdeacon of Southend, the Rabbi of the Southend and District Reform Synagogue, the Imam of the UKIM Southend Mosque, as well as 42 other leaders of faith have signed an open letter calling for this council to pledge to give sanctuary to three child refugees for the next ten years.

“Will you give your backing to this campaign, ensuring Southend’s reputation of being a compassionate and welcoming place continues to grow?”

Councillor Helen Boyd, cabinet member for children and learning, told the council they will back the pledge on the condition that the Government approves and funds the campaign to bring 10,000 child refugees into the UK.

She said: “Southend Council will continue to offer support and placements for child refugees coming into the UK.

“We have already been working with other local authorities in the eastern region to ensure vulnerable children brought into the UK through the national transfer scheme are settled quickly into new families and communities.

“This scheme has seen increasing numbers of child refugees given a home and the regional approach was put in place with the full support of cabinet.

“Notwithstanding that existing commitment, we will support the campaign to give sanctuary to three child refugees per year.”

Our Turn is a campaign for every council to take three refugees a year for the next ten years in an effort to bring a total of 10,000 child refugees to the UK.