DOZENS of asylum seeking children are living in this region without their parents after fleeing their homeland in fear, it has been revealed.
There are 40 unaccompanied asylum-seeking children (UASC) being supported by Dumfries and Galloway Council, many of whom have escaped war or conflict in places such as Afghanistan, Iraq, and Syria.
The UK Home Office defines a UASC as an under 18, who is applying for asylum and is separated from both parents, and not in the care of a guardian.
And a councillor has called on locals to be compassionate towards these youngsters as they try to integrate into a new society.
Dee and Glenkens Councillor Dougie Campbell was a volunteer with the Scottish Refugee Council, and later joined its board of directors.
He said: “I don’t think you can underestimate how traumatising the experience is for many refugee adults and unaccompanied children arriving in the UK.
“Many who are fleeing war or persecution, hoping to find refuge in the UK are forced to arrive in boats and lorries, which has caused so many to die.
“When refugees arrive in the UK, they are either detained or ‘dispersed’ overnight to locations around the UK until their asylum application is assessed.
“Many have no idea where they are and what is going to happen to them. This of course is even more frightening for unaccompanied child refugees who may have faced exploitation and people trafficking gangs.
“The asylum process can often take years and the refugee children can often grow into adulthood without certainty on their future.
“In my experience with Scottish Refugee Council, refugee children are invariably scared, confused, undernourished and traumatised.”
At this week’s social work committee, councillors were presented with a report on the department’s work during the first half of 2024-2025.
For the first time, resettlement data has been included in the document.
Avril Dickie, the council’s operational strategic manager, wrote in the report: “We are currently supporting 40 unaccompanied asylum-seeking children.
“Two young people have secured their British Citizenship and currently we have 19 UASC who have been given five years to remain within the UK.
“The majority of USACs residing in Dumfries and Galloway are from Afghanistan, who have fled from their country of origin due to conflict from war, relationship breakdown between family members or threats of violence to an individual and family member which is commonplace.
“Other USACs include Albanian, Egyptian, Iraqi, Moroccan, Pakistani, and Vietnamese.”
Home Office asylum dispersal contractor Mears found contingency accommodation in Dumfries for asylum seekers in July 2023.
