Huge rise in children fleeing war-torn countries
THE number of lone child asylum seekers placed in care by Manchester council has jumped more than 40pc in a year, as more and more youngsters from war-torn countries seek refuge in the city.
Much of the rise has been attributed to new government rules that see children sent from the south east - where they often arrive after being smuggled into the UK - to other areas.
One charity said many are arriving confused and fearful for the safety of their relatives back home after fleeing conflicts across the Middle East and Africa.
While Manchester’s numbers remain relatively small, they are growing significantly, a report going before councillors next week reveals.
In the year to February 2016, the town hall placed 48 unaccompanied child asylum seekers in care, compared to 67 over the following 13 months - a rise of 44pc.
“The number of unaccompanied asylum seeking children in care has increased and the national picture indicates this and the transfer of children will continue to increase,” predicts the report by director of childrens services Paul Marshall.
Denise McDowell, director at the Greater Manchester Immigration Aid Unit (GMIAU), which has bases in Moss Side and Crumpsall, said the council’s trend was ‘exactly’ the same as experienced by the charity.
“Children arrive in different ways,” she said, adding that at one point many were being ‘dropped off by lorries on the M6.’
“More recently they have been transferred here from authorities like Kent, which had said they were overwhelmed by the number of children arriving through their ports that they were needing to care for. As a result there was a scheme set up 18 months ago to disperse those children across England and Wales.
“That’s one reason there’s a significant increase.”
Those children will have all been smuggled into the country, she added, as that’s ‘the only way they’ve been able to arrive.’
Manchester council will also take responsibility for child refugees who have come to the city directly to live with a relative, but where the relationship has broken down or the family is unable to care for them after all, she said.
GMIAU mainly sees children aged 14 to 17 who have fled conflict or danger in countries such as Syria, Iraq, Iran or Afghanistan, as well as African nations such as Eritrea, Sudan, Chad and Zimbabwe.
Often they have been sent here by parents hoping they will find safety, but in other cases they have fled themselves, Denise added.
They are likely to be dealing with trauma, confusion and fear over the safety of the relatives left behind in their native country.
“When they initially arrive they don’t really know where they are,” she said.
She added that the biggest concern often facing youngsters is their own immigration status, the resolution of which she said ‘hugely varies’ in timescale.
Manchester council’s report does not say what proportion of the youngsters are placed in residential or foster care, although it does say that as a proportion of the overall youngsters it is seeing come into the system - which is itself on the rise unaccompanied child asylum seekers are increasing.
Paul Marshall, director of children’s services, said: “Despite our best efforts the demand on our services remains huge.
“We have actively engaged in the national transfer scheme which has led to an increase in the number of unaccompanied children seeking asylum. It is absolutely right that Manchester plays its part in looking after these children, and we will continue to do so, but this also adds to our pressures.”