Unaccompanied minors

1. The German guardian of a youth originating from Romania wants to know if his parents or other relatives in Romania can be found and if he can go to live with them, or if a placement in a youth care facility would be possible.

2. A youth care facility contacts ISS regarding a 13-year-old girl from the Democratic Republic of Congo who came alone to Germany and whose parents had been killed. She is worried about her brother, from whom she had been separated when they fled. The youth care facility asks to locate the brother’s whereabouts.

Unaccompanied minor refugees from numerous war and crisisstricken areas seek refuge in Germany. Some of them are received into care by the youth welfare offices, while others live with relatives or in reception centres for asylum seekers. For those minors, it has to be clarified if they can return to their country of origin, go to live with family members in another country, or if they can stay in Germany for good.

ISS German Branch

• through its network, traces family members and clarifies if a family reunification is possible.
• clarifies whether a return to the country of origin is advisable under the aspect of the best interests of the child.