Since the start of Russia's invasion of Ukraine, more than 300 unaccompanied minors in Belgium have registered at the Guardianship Service of the Federal Public Service of Justice. Vincent Van Quickenborne, Belgium's Justice Minister, confirmed this figure on Wednesday in response to questions from MEPs Ben Segers (Vooruit) and Katleen Bury (Vlaams Belang), Belga News Agency reports.
Belgium has already registered about 25,000 Ukrainian refugees since the war began. According to the most recent figures from the Guardianship Service last weekend, there are at least 308 unaccompanied minors. So far, only 34 have been assigned a guardian.
The real figures are likely to be much larger, but due to the high number of refugees, there is a delay in the registration at the Guardianship Service, Van Quickenborne told the Parliamentary Justice Committee.
The number fluctuates on a daily basis, but there is currently an average of about 15 to 25 new unaccompanied minor refugees per day. It's possible that this number could decrease in the coming days, as the immigration department has seen a drop in the number of refugee registrations since the weekend.
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A large majority of unaccompanied minors do not yet have a guardian, although some 200 are still in the initial reception phase. Additionally, 90% of children and young people arriving in Belgium were accompanied by at least one family member or acquaintance.
Van Quickenborne already announced last week that the Guardianship Service would be strengthened, with 60 additional guardians to be added.
