Dutch must intensify search for missing migrant children, says NGO

The Dutch government must do more to find missing migrant children. These cases of missing children must be investigated thoroughly and action must be taken to prevent kids from this vulnerable group disappearing, according to interest group Defense for Children, NOS reports. According to the broadcaster, more than 10 thousand unaccompanied migrant children disappeared within Europe in 2014. A top executive at Europol believes there is a good chance that they ended up in prostitution or child labor. According to Defense for Children, this also happens in the Netherlands. A total of 110 migrant children disappeared in the country in 2014, the last year for which figures are available. "We have these children within our borders. So it's our responsibility to take this problem seriously." Martine Goeman of Defense for Children said to the broadcaster. "It's a vulnerable group. Precisely for this reason all the alarm bells should sound when child asylum seekers disappear." According to the organization, the Dutch government is not doing enough to find these children. When a child asylum seeker goes missing, no Amber Alert is issued. The case is usually only registered as "left for an unknown destination". Defense for Children also calls for extra measures to prevent new cases of disappearances.