Unaccompanied and separated children: prioritisation, alternative care and reunification

Best interests assessments: 96 / 214 = 44.9%; 118 children do not have one. Location: 31 / 140 = 22.1% of tracing cases opened; 74 children do not yet have a tracing case opened. Caseload: 214 / 5 = 42.8 cases per case worker; requirement: 214 / 25 = 8.6, i.e. 9 case workers; 4 are missing.

Priority groups: (1) the 23 children alone or with other children, without a responsible adult; (2) the 9 unaccompanied children aged 0 to 4, highly dependent and whose identity is quickly lost; (3) the 50 unaccompanied children in unverified spontaneous foster families (reports of labour and marriage); (4) the 18 children in the transit centre, whose stay must remain short; (5) the 6 children with disabilities; (6) unaccompanied adolescent girls. The 112 children living with relatives are a lower priority but must be followed up.

Principles: preserve family unity, favour family-based care in the community, with institutions only a temporary last resort; every decision based on best interests and the child's views according to age; keep siblings together.

Children alone (23): visit within 48 hours, risk assessment, placement in an assessed and monitored foster family; for older adolescents who wish it, supervised independent living with a reference adult and frequent visits. Spontaneous foster families (61): do not remove children as a matter of principle; assess each family (motivation, capacity, risks), sign a care agreement, follow-up visits at least weekly at first, material support so that the child is not a burden; removal if in danger. Transit centre (18): stay as short as possible, discharge to an assessed family, trained staff and code of conduct. Children under 5: priority to family placement; photographs and all identity clues kept for tracing.

Verification protects the child: it must be confirmed that the adult located is indeed the parent or relative, that the child and the family want reunification and that it does not expose the child to danger (abuse, exploitation, false parent). Reunification without verification is a serious failing.

Steps: (1) identification and registration, with detailed documentation; (2) tracing: lists and photos shared across sites, radio announcements, community-based tracing, inter-agency database; (3) cross-verification of information given by the child and the adult, the child's views; (4) best interests assessment and preparation of the child and the family; (5) accompanied reunification; (6) post-reunification follow-up and support to the family.

Cross-border: work through the mandated actors (ICRC and National Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies for restoring family links, UNHCR for refugees), with data-sharing agreements. No return of a refugee child to a conflict area without an assessment of the situation and a decision in their best interests.

Child marriage is a serious violation of her rights and a high risk of violence. (1) Visit within 24 hours by a female case worker; one-to-one interview with the girl: what she wants, her safety, her needs. (2) Risk assessment: if the marriage is imminent or she is in danger, emergency placement in an assessed foster family or safe accommodation, with her agreement. (3) Dialogue with the foster family without accusation: understand the motivations (economic burden, "protection"), recall the law and the risks, offer support (cash transfer, kit, schooling). (4) Referral to GBV and health services if needed. (5) Case plan with close follow-up, schooling or training, and priority to tracing her family. (6) If the family maintains the plan, pursue legal protection with UNHCR and the competent authorities. Everything is documented and confidential.

Example: "Dear Sir or Madam, thank you for your concern for these children. We are unable to accept your offer. Most separated children are not orphans: their parents or relatives are often alive and tracing is under way. Moving them to a distant institution would jeopardise reunification, cut the children off from their community and expose them to risks. The Inter-agency Guiding Principles call for family-based care in the community and rule out adoption during the emergency phase. If you would like to help, we can tell you how to support foster families and family tracing, in coordination with the child protection working group."

Adoption: refused at this stage. Adoption is only considered after thorough tracing has failed over a reasonable period, in the child's best interests and in accordance with the law; in a refugee situation, the matter falls to the competent authorities and UNHCR. I inform the child protection working group and the authorities of the association's approach.