A side rarely seen of the famously stoical German Chancellor has been revealed as Angela Merkel came face to face with the reality of her country's immigration policy.

During a televised meeting with schoolchildren Merkel had to explain to a young girl why she will be deported along with her family.

Reem, from Palestine, told the Chancellor that her family had moved to the northern city of Rostock four years ago, but had recently been told that they face deportation.

“I have goals like anyone else. I want to study like them ... it’s very unpleasant to see how others can enjoy life, and I can’t myself,” she said.

Merkel said she understood the child's situation, but defended Germany's stance on immigration:

“Politics is sometimes hard. You’re right in front of me now and you’re an extremely sympathetic person.

“But you also know in the Palestinian refugee camps in Lebanon are thousands and thousands and if we were to say 'you can all come' ... we just can’t manage it.”

Seeing the girl begin to cry, Merkel approached her and stroked her shoulder as she comforted her.

“You were great ... I know it’s difficult for you and you presented extremely well the situation that many others find themselves in,” she said.

Immigration remains one of the most contentious issues in German politics, with the country receiving 450,000 asylum request so far this year - and many communities saying they simply cannot cater for the numbers of refugees arriving.

Tensions continue to grow as far-right organisations - most notably Pegida (Patriotic Europeans Against the Islamisation of the West) - have become increasingly popular across Germany.