Valdegour squat: “After assessment, only 20% of young people are recognized as minors”, explains the Department

Une centaine de jeunes migrants vivent dans un hammam désaffecté à Valdegour. Midi Libre – K. H.

The care of unaccompanied minors (UMAs) is a bit like the stone in the Department's shoe which explains the difficulties of this mission.

Are there 100, 200 young people from black Africa, in this squat in the Valdegour district, waiting for possible support by the Department if they are minors? The Department is moving cautiously on the subject: "There is nothing to confirm that some of the people living in the Valdegour squat are minors and isolated awaiting shelter. This is a confusion that should not be entertained. It seems that there are around a hundred people in this squat while only around twenty people present themselves every day to Child Social Assistance (ASE) as minors and isolated people. quot;. 

"1000 people per year sheltered"

The departmental council specifies that people already sheltered and waiting or being assessed are accommodated in the hotel or in a ;rsquo;other structures."More than 1000 people per year are sheltered for assessment of their age and 20% of them are recognized minor and therefore supported by the ASE.

But many young people in this squat have already seen their minority challenged by the evaluation and are now waiting to see their appeal filed succeed, sometimes for months.

"Assessment: up to three weeks waiting"

The delay sheltering for assessment is linked to the reception capacity of the dedicated structures but also to the number of applicants which may vary strongly from one period to the next. It therefore varies between almost immediacy and more than a month. "Currently, waiting times have decreased compared to the peak arrival last fall. For some, it can be up to 3 weeks of waiting. Knowing that very young people, of whom there is no doubt that they are minorities, or females are integrated into the system as a priority and without delay, specify the Department's services.

For others, it is a question of determining whether, in the absence of reliable identity papers, a young person is more or less than 18 years old. "This evaluation is made in accordance with the reception capacities implemented and in a qualitative and respectful manner for individuals (accommodation for 5 days, psychologists, translators, educators… )".

Ten million euros per year

The care of unaccompanied minors weighs on the community budget. Each year, the Departmental Council devotes 10 million euros specifically for evaluation, shelter for people declaring themselves unaccompanied minors and for the support of those who are ultimately entrusted to Childhood Social Assistance; (ASE) of Gard. And ten agents work exclusively on unaccompanied minors.

"In addition, as part of the envelope of additional credits for the implementation of the Departmental Plan for Social Solidarity and ;use of European Social Funds, up to 2 M€ Additional resources are planned to develop assessment, sheltering and support capacities. New capacities which must be operational during 2024.