In 2024, 774 minors of the migrant who arrived in the country unaccompanied by adults disappeared on the territory of Belgium. According to local authorities, only 246 of them managed to establish the whereabouts.
According to the publication of De Standaard, citing data received by the deputy from the Green Party, Matti Vandemel, at least 101 cases were classified as causing serious concern.
According to the report, about 15 children on average on average.
Of the 774 disappeared minors, only 246 were found, the fate of another 528 remains unknown.
The most alarming cases relate, as a rule, children under 13 years of age, the last time noticed in an unsafe or alarming environment, as well as children with physical or mental disorders.
“Minors, who remained unaccompanied by adults, are extremely vulnerable. The inability of our government to protect these children is a regrettable failure,” Vandemel said.
He also called on the Minister of Justice and Minister for asylum and migration to take urgent measures – in particular, to appoint minor migrants upon arrival and prevent possible disappearance.
According to the Missing Children Europe project, which tracks the losses of children in Europe, from 2021 to 2023, at least 51,433 minor migrants without accompaniment disappeared on the continent. This is an average of almost 47 children per day.