Barnet's Jewish refugees have become the first people in the world to receive money from a Government fund set up to help needy Holocaust survivors.

During the London-based conference on Nazi Gold in December last year, Foreign Sectretary Robin Cook announced the establishment of a £1million Humanitarian Fund. On Monday, thanks to organisations like the Association of Jewish Refugees (AJR), the money was distributed to more than 680 people throughout Britain.

According to Marcia Goodman, the head of social services at the AJR, each recipient will get £400 which, she says, may not seem much, but to those in need it is nothing short of a windfall.

Along with Jewish Care, World Jewish Relief, 45 Aid Society and Agudas, the AJR compiled a database of refugees on income support and it is those who will receive the money.

Mrs Goodman, delighted by the speed in which the British organisations managed to collect and distribute the money, said: "Two thirds of the money from the fund has been allocated to Eastern Europe but it hasn't been distributed yet. About 17 countries have received money but we are the first in the world to actually distribute it."

Speaking earlier this year, Mr Cook said: "We all have a responsibility to ensure that people who survived the greatest crime of our times do not lack the material support they need during their remaining years.

"We can never erase the scars borne by those who were persecuted by the Nazis. But the fund can at least ensure that they can grow old with dignity, freed from the misery of poverty."

Mrs Goodman said most of the recipients come from the Barnet and Camden areas.

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