Who are unaccompanied minors?
When we talk about migrants, the word “unaccompanied minors (UAMs)” is often used. Unaccompanied minors are children or adolescents who travel across countries without parents or legal guardians.
How many unaccompanied minors arrive in Europe?
In 2021, approximately a total of 24,000 migrant children arrived in Europe (Bulgaria, Cyprus, Greece, Italy, Malta and Spain).
It is estimated that 17,200 children out of 24,000 (71%) were UAMs.
7 out of 10 children……such many children move across countries without parents…..It sounds very tough.
From which country do they come and how do they move to a destination country?
The major countries of origin are
– African countries (Tunisia, Algeria, Côte d’Ivoire, Eritrea, etc.);
– Afghanistan;
– Bangladesh; and
– Syria.
Many of them travel by foot, car, boat or ship.
What kind of diseases do they suffer from?
Since the life environment is poor during their migrant journey, the below diseases commonly occur.
– Diarrhoea; and
– Skin diseases.
In addition, tuberculosis, hepatitis and malaria are also often seen.
Many UAMs experience conflict and poverty in their country of origin and they are often involved in violence and crimes during their long migrant journey without guardians. So, they have a high risk of suffering from mental health such as PTSD (Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder) and anxiety.
They must have had a lot of scary experiences.
Can they go to the hospital when they are sick?
The health policy depends on each country in Europe, but many countries’ policies allow UAMs to receive basic or emergency health care.
However, receiving health care is often difficult for them because:
- They do not know well about a health policy which allows them to receive medical care;
- They do not have enough information about a hospital where they can go to;
- There is a language barrier when they can not speak a local language and when a health facility does not provide a language support service.
I can easily imagine how difficult to find a hospital in a foreign country.
References
– Refugee and Migrant Children in Europe Accompanied, Unaccompanied and Separated. Overview of Trends January to December 2021. UNHCR, UNICEF, and IOM.
– Health of refugee and migrant children. Copenhagen: WHO Regional Office for Europe; 2018 (Technical guidance on refugee and migrant health).
– MOCHA consortium, European Commission. Models of Child Health Appraised (A study of primary healthcare in 30 European countries). Migrant children in Europe: entitlements to Health care. 31st August 2016.
