The Government of Álava faces a calmer scenario nowadays, since it seems that the massive arrival of unaccompanied minors that almost collapsed the region’s social services has stopped. The Institute of Social Wellbeing of the Regional Government is now responsible for around 60 unaccompanied minors, less than half of those it was responsible for last year. The reduction in the number of unaccompanied minors in the region is due to the decrease in the number of boats that reach the Canary Islands. According to the Central Government, there has been a decrease of 99% in the number of boats that arrived to the region. The reason for this reduction seems to be severity of the economic crisis. In addition, the regional government has demanded tests to determine the age of those who claim to be “minors”, even though only the Public Ministry could order them. A new administrative and judicial protocol, which establishes clear procedural guidelines for the provision of these tests, has put these irregularities in order.

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Source: El Correo.com