The Institut Mallorquí d’Afers Socials (IMAS) warns of the saturation of the child protection system in Mallorca. In just the first fifteen days of August, 36 unaccompanied foreign minors arrived by boat, more than the whole of August last year, when 30 arrived.

unaccompanied minors

The Vice-President of IMAS, Magdalena Garcia Gual. Photo: Consell de Mallorca.

Fifteen of them arrived in just three days and six over the last weekend. The overcrowding of the system has reached 1,150%. Currently, two out of three minors in care are unaccompanied migrants. This threatens the educational and social care model, which could be reduced to basic support if additional resources are not provided, warns IMAS Vice-President Magdalena Garcia Gual.

Lack of Support from the Spanish Government

IMAS has expanded places and strengthened specialised staff. However, it denounces the lack of financial and human support from the Spanish Government. It calls for urgent measures, such as official recognition of the Balearic migration route, activation of Frontex, and immediate funding.

“Only through dialogue, coordination, and sufficient resources can we guarantee the best care for minors and preserve the quality of our protection system,” said Magdalena Garcia Gual.