New research by Da'aro Youth Project shows rising deaths of unaccompanied asylum-seeking young people

Da'aro Youth Project is today publishing a new report titled:

'Deaths of unaccompanied asylum-seeking young people in the care of, or supported by, local authorities’. 

This report shows, for the first time, how many unaccompanied asylum-seeking children and young people have died in recent years, and provides information on cause of death and also demographic information.

Our research shows that over a ten-year period between 2015 and 2024:

● At least 54 unaccompanied asylum-seeking young people died whilst in touch with a local authority.

● Of this number, the majority died by suicide (at least 31 young people).

● Of those known to have died by suicide, more than two-thirds were teenagers and more than half were Eritrean nationals.

Our research also shows that deaths are rising – that more young people died in the last five years than the previous five – and that 2024 was the year with the highest number of deaths.

We have written a letter addressed to the Secretary of State for Education, Bridget Phillipson MP, who has governmental responsibility for children's social care -- asking her to act to prevent future deaths.

This research was lead by Benny Hunter who also authored the report.

Sarah Robson, Director of Da'aro Youth Project has said:

"Our research shows that deaths of unaccompanied asylum-seeking young  people are rising. This is the first time this data has ever been  compiled -- and we find it to be very shocking. Unaccompanied young  people, who have been forced to flee their homes and have come to the UK  to find safety and sanctuary, are dying by suicide in great numbers.

These  young people are some of the most vulnerable young people in our  society. They have been mistreated repeatedly by governments -- with  children treated as adults by the Home Office -- and an asylum system  that prioritises deterrence over sanctuary.

This data does not  show how many children who have been age disputed (and are outside of  the care system) have died, and by what cause -- and we have asked the  Home Office to share this but they have acted to prevent this  information from being brought to light.

We need transparency  from this government. We need them to say how they are going to  safeguard some of the most vulnerable in our society -- those children  and young people, living in the UK without their parents, many of whom  have experienced significant trauma in their lives."