The Da’aro Youth Project has published a report on the deaths of unaccompanied asylum-seeking young people in the care of or supported by local authorities in the UK. The data shows that between 2015 and 2024, at least 52 unaccompanied asylum-seeking young people died whilst being cared for, or supported by, a local authority or health and social care trust. In addition, an unknown number of unaccompanied asylum-seeking children died whilst trying to access care. The majority died by suicide and more than two-thirds of those who died by suicide were teenagers. Recommendations include that the government should: collect and publish appropriate data; undertake a national review of the deaths within the report; and strengthen the rights and entitlements of unaccompanied asylum-seeking young people and implement a new safeguarding strategy. The report also calls for rapid reviews to be undertaken in all cases when a young person dies in the care of the state, or in receipt of support as a care leaver in England and Wales, regardless of whether or not abuse or neglect is known or suspected.
Download the report: New research by Da’aro Youth Project shows rising deaths of unaccompanied asylum-seeking young people
Source: Da’aro Youth Project
Date published: 08 April 2026
