Hundreds of unaccompanied foreign minors go missing each year in Belgium
In 2024, 774 unaccompanied foreign minors were reported missing in Belgium—nearly fifteen every week. Around 100 of these cases were considered particularly alarming. The figures, disclosed in response to a parliamentary question by MP Matti Vandemaele (Groen), rank Belgium among the European countries most affected by the phenomenon. Child protection organisations warn that structural gaps may hinder the identification and protection of vulnerable children.
New figures show that 774 unaccompanied minors disappeared in Belgium in 2024, of whom 246 were later found. Around 100 of these cases were classified as “very concerning”, due to the child’s age, urgent medical needs or indicators suggesting serious danger. The data were obtained through a written parliamentary question submitted by MP Matti Vandemaele. According to Child Focus, which tracks such cases, many of the remaining files remain open. The organisation also warns of a large “dark number” of disappearances that go unrecorded—children who never enter the reception system and therefore cannot officially be reported missing.
Disappearances of unaccompanied minors have been rising for years across Europe. According to the Lost in Europe investigative project, there were 18.000 such cases between 2018 and 2021, and more than 51.000 between 2021 and 2023. During this latter period, 2.257 cases were recorded in Belgium, placing the country among the top three of thirteen countries surveyed. The 774 disappearances reported for 2024 suggest no significant improvement.
Experts identify a range of reasons why unaccompanied minors go missing. Some children are in transit to other countries, such as the United Kingdom, and deliberately avoid contact with the authorities. Others may fear rejection of their asylum application and go into hiding, often using false identities. In more alarming cases, they fall into the hands of smugglers or criminal networks and are exploited for activities such as drug trafficking or prostitution.
Several actors, including reception professionals and child protection organisations, note that many disappearances occur before the child’s situation is fully understood, making timely action difficult. Building trust is seen as essential to preventing disappearances, but delays in assigning a guardian can hinder this process. Limited individual follow-up in large reception centres also makes it harder to intervene early. While every disappearance is, in principle, reported to the police, few appear to lead to formal investigations, which observers link to limited capacity and competing priorities.
For further information, please refer to this press release (in Dutch) published in De Standaard.