Over 50 Young Asylum Seekers Have Died in the UK Since 2015, Data Shows
More than 50 young asylum seekers in the United Kingdom have lost their lives over the past decade, with the majority of these deaths being suicides, according to newly compiled data. This alarming information, gathered for the first time, highlights a critical safeguarding crisis affecting vulnerable children and young people in the care system.
Shocking Statistics Reveal a Disturbing Trend
Of the 54 recorded deaths of children and young people who claimed asylum between 2015 and 2024 while under care, 31 were confirmed suicides. Additionally, seven deaths were homicides, eight resulted from fatal accidents, six were due to health issues, and in two cases, the cause of death remains unknown. Notably, 44 of these tragic deaths have occurred since 2020, with 2024 marking the worst year, witnessing seven suicides and seven other fatalities.
Data Collection and Government Transparency Issues
The data was meticulously collected by the Da'aro Youth Project, an organization dedicated to supporting young asylum seekers. Through freedom of information requests, all local authority children's services departments in England, Scotland, and Wales, along with all health and social care trusts in Northern Ireland, were approached. However, the Home Office and the Department for Education refused to provide this crucial information, raising concerns about transparency.
Since 2024, the Office of the Information Commissioner has issued five separate decision notices, finding that the Home Office wrongly withheld information regarding asylum seeker deaths. The Home Office is currently appealing against four of these decisions. Furthermore, the data from local authorities is likely incomplete, as the Home Office often disputes the ages given by young asylum seekers, preventing some from entering the care system where they might receive better protection.
Heartbreaking Cases Highlight Systemic Failures
Among the suicides, six involved children aged 17 or under, 16 were young people aged 18 to 20, and nine were individuals between 20 and 24 years old. One poignant case is that of Amir Safi from Afghanistan, who claimed to be 16 but was ruled an adult by authorities. An inquest heard that he became "very quiet and withdrawn" before his death in 2024.
Between November 2017 and February 2019, four suicides of Eritrean teenagers who knew each other—Alexander Tekle, Osman Ahmed Nur, Mulubrhane Medhane Kfleyosus, and Filmon Yemane—further underscore the severity of the situation.
Calls for Action and Government Response
The report has been sent to key ministers, including Education Secretary Bridget Phillipson and Immigration Minister Alex Norris, accompanied by a letter expressing deep concern over the lack of government transparency. It states, "We believe that all children and young people matter, regardless of their immigration status, national origin or ethnicity."
The report outlines three critical demands:
- Publication of death data for this vulnerable group.
- A national review of these deaths to understand root causes.
- Implementation of a new safeguarding strategy specifically for young asylum seekers.
Sarah Robson, director of the Da'aro Youth Project, emphasized the gravity of the findings: "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 have been mistreated repeatedly by governments—with children treated as adults by the Home Office—and an asylum system that prioritises deterrence over sanctuary."
The Home Office and Department for Education have been approached for comment but have yet to respond publicly to these urgent calls for change.
