UK says 200 asylum-seeking children missing, some aged under 16

LONDON ( HRNW) – Two hundred asylum-seeking children, including some aged under 16, are missing from temporary hotel accommodation in Britain, the government said on Tuesday,
raising new questions over ministers  handling of migrant arrivals.

Prime Minister Rishi Sunak s government is under pressure on two fronts over immigration: from those who say he is failing to protect Britain s borders from migrants arriving in small boats and others who say the government is not treating those who arrive properly.

Immigration minister Robert Jenrick was called to parliament on Tuesday by a member of the Green Party to explain media reports of missing children.

Jenrick said 13 of the 200 missing children were under 16 years old and one was female, with around 88% of all those missing coming from Albania. He said the government was fulfilling its obligations to protect the children.

“The movements of under-18s in and out of hotels are monitored and reported and they re accompanied by social workers when attending organised activities,” Jenrick told parliament.