Angela Merkel is left speechless as 10-year-old Palestinian girl named Reem starts sobbing during a televised debate. Photo / NDR / YouTube
Angela Merkel is left speechless as 10-year-old Palestinian girl named Reem starts sobbing during a televised debate. Photo / NDR / YouTube
German Chancellor Angela Merkel has been criticised for reducing a young refugee to tears after telling the girl facing deportation that "some will have to go back home".
The chancellor was left speechless after a 10-year-old Palestinian girl named Reem started sobbing during a televised forum for young people afterMrs Merkel told her that not all migrants can stay in Germany.
The young refugee had told Mrs Merkel in the video that she and her family had been waiting four years to gain permanent residency in the country. Her family was informed they would have to return to a camp in Lebanon soon, only to receive a last-minute temporary German residency permit, she said.
"I would like to go to university," the girl told the Chancellor in fluent German at the forum in Rostock.
"It's very unpleasant to see how other people can enjoy life and I can't myself. I don't know what my future will bring."
Mrs Merkel replied that "politics can be tough", adding: "You are an extremely nice person but you also know that there are thousands and thousands of people in Palestinian refugee camps in Lebanon."
Germany could not manage if all wanted to move there, she said, but was forced to stop mid-sentence when she saw Reem crying.
The Chancellor walked up to the girl and started stroking her shoulder, saying: "You were great ... I know it's difficult for you and you presented extremely well the situation that many others find themselves in."
The incident, which saw the term #Merkelstreichelt (Merkel strokes) trending on Twitter within hours of the video being broadcast, saw Mrs Merkel criticised for showing a lack of empathy.
The video coincided with the publication of new data showing that German towns and cities are struggling to find appropriate accommodation for the large numbers of refugees entering the country.
Germany expects 400,000 asylum applications by the end of 2015, more than double the amount if received in 2014.
