This figure of 170 is based on the number of Ukrainian unaccompanied minors registered with child protection services. A spokesperson, who said he did not know if it was the entire group, said: “We are realistic. There is a good chance that there are children who have not yet been enrolled, so we call on everyone to be vigilant and report the children to the municipality, to the municipality or directly to child protection.
Only a few of these children have been appointed guardians by the court. According to child protection, this is not necessary for the largest group, because parents can use their authority from Ukraine. They then call their children.
In addition, according to Child Protection, “a significant proportion of children” have documents from their parents stating that the adult who fled the child can make a decision about the child. This can be, for example, an aunt, neighbor or adult sister. The IND first checks whether these documents are genuine and correct. Child protection can then decide whether it is really necessary to organize custody.
Nidos is also concerned
This is also a concern for the Nidos foundation, which takes care of the majority of single people in the Netherlands and often also acts as a guardian. The foundation says there are currently about 20 unaccompanied Ukrainian minors in shelters, with the exception of a few who have not been given custody.
According to Nidos, the danger is that no body maintains contact with these children. And according to the organization there are not many suitable alternative shelters. Municipalities have opened a company for 66 Ukrainian minors in Mierlo, Brabant, but only one child has stayed there for a few nights since it opened last month.
Nidos does not want to send the young people supported by the foundation to Mierlo because it is a temporary shelter that is partly supervised by volunteers. According to Nidos, this is no guarantee for continuity of intake.
The organization also questions child protection’s argument that Ukrainian children who call their parents do not need a guardian. Nidos says that children of non-Ukrainian asylum seekers can also contact their parents, but they will be given a guardian.
Better information
Refugee Work and UNICEF are particularly concerned about Ukrainian children living in private homes without their parents. Some were collected by volunteers in groups from the Polish border and came with family or friends. Evita Bloemheuvel of Vluchtelingenwerk: “It is unclear whether all children are registered. No one has a complete picture of this group. If they are enrolled, it is difficult to get a weekly allowance or enroll in school without a legal representative. Holland.”
UNICEF children’s rights expert Arja Oomkens argues for better information for professionals and volunteers and wants the government to clarify why it is so important to register these children. He also wants the cabinet to discuss this with the Ukrainian community in the Netherlands.
Source: NOS
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