Plight of Calais Jungle camp children very worrying: Benedict Cumberbatch
Benedict Cumberbatch has said the plight of young children currently stranded in the Calais Jungle is "very worrying".
The Sherlock actor, a long-time campaigner for refugees, expressed concerns at the reported speed of the eviction which is currently taking place in the makeshift community.
French authorities are poised to send in demolition teams to the sea of tents and shacks which make up the impoverished camp in the northern tip of France.
Scores of unaccompanied minors are believed to still be in the camp as bulldozers approach, despite the Government last week accelerating action to bring more vulnerable children to the UK.
On Monday, charity Help Refugees said it believed there were 49 lone children under the age of 13 remaining in the camp.
Cumberbatch has previously made headlines after launching a stinging attack on the Government’s response to the refugee crisis, following a performance of Hamlet.
The actor told LBC: "What’s worrying now is the chaos and the scenes that we’ve seen come out of there and just worrying about those who are most vulnerable in that situation."
He added: "I don’t know enough about it because I’m not on the ground... so I wouldn’t like to comment but it seems worrying - and enough people in the grown-up sections of charities that care for the welfare of the young and vulnerable are very, very worried about the speed with which it’s being done and how it’s being done.
"Look, I know I’m a white, privileged actor but I also have a profile and a lot of attention on me and I gladly shine the spotlight on those who need that attention and not me.
"But also that includes the aid workers, the charity workers who are dealing with this first-hand, so they’re the people that you really need to ask an opinion about of this instance because they’re there on the ground trying to deal with this, but like everyone looking at the news feeds, it’s worrying, It’s very worrying."
