by Our News Desk

UNACCOMPANIED children seeking asylum in Britain has soared by almost half, official figures revealed yesterday.

A total of 2,168 migrants aged under 18 applied for asylum in the year to June, an increase of 46 per cent compared to the previous year’s 1,488.

The latest figures, published by the Home Office alongside migration data on Thursday, showed that there were 518 applications from unaccompanied minors in the most recent quarter.

Boys made up the vast majority of claims, while there were 46 from girls.

But the Home Office said that despite the recent rise in applications from unaccompanied children, they remain below a peak of 3,976 in 2008.

The latest stats come after it emerged that the number of young migrants in Kent County Council’s care jumped sharply, leaving it with a £5.5 million funding gap in care costs.

Last month nimby residents in Whitstable, Kent, were up in arms over plans by the council to convert a disused care home into temporary housing for young asylum seekers because it was next to a primary school, nursery and Age UK centre.

Refugee Council charity’s Dr Lisa Doyle said: “Globally, more children have been forced to flee their homes alone than at any other time since records began.

“The vast majority are fleeing brutal conflict and instability in Syria, Eritrea, Somalia and Afghanistan and many of them will have witnessed the death of a family member or have been abused themselves.

“A very small proportion of these children have sought safety in Britain, arriving completely alone, bewildered and frightened, in a desperate quest for peace and safety. The UK is right to look after them, as we would other children who can’t live in peace with their families.”