Politics · Turkey · 4 hrs ago
Turkey searches for 13 unaccompanied children after 14 failed to return
Turkey’s Family and Social Services Ministry says 14 unaccompanied foreign children did not return to a facility in Edirne after a shopping break on October 11.
The ministry said they were identified in connection with irregular migration and were not children under state protection, as some reports had described them.
The children had been handed over to the ministry’s Edirne First Reception Arda Children’s Homes Directorate.
One child has returned, while 13 are still being sought.
The ministry said it alerted law enforcement immediately and that efforts to locate the children are continuing.
It said the children’s safety and best interests are its priority.
The ministry is following the case in coordination with relevant institutions.
Turkey is searching for 13 unaccompanied foreign children who did not return to a state-run facility in Edirne after receiving permission to go to a market.
The Ministry of Family and Social Services said the children were identified in connection with irregular migration and were not children under state protection.
Fourteen children had not returned after the permission on 11 October 2026.
One child has since returned, while efforts to find the other 13 continue.
- Who
- Thirteen unaccompanied foreign children are being sought; all 14 children had been identified in connection with irregular migration.
- What
- They did not return to a facility after being given permission to go to a market; one has since returned.
- When
- The children did not return on 11 October 2026. The ministry’s statement was published on 13 October 2026.
- Where
- Edirne, Turkey, at the Edirne First Reception Arda Children's Homes Site Directorate.
- Why
- They had been given permission to go to a market. Why they did not return is not stated.
This story does not have two clearly opposing sides.
Fourteen children did not return to the Edirne facility after receiving permission to go to a market.
The situation was reported to law enforcement and a search began; one child returned to the facility.
The Ministry of Family and Social Services issued a statement saying efforts to find the other 13 children were continuing.
- Children initially missing
- 14
- Children still being sought
- 13
- Children returned
- 1
- Date they did not return
- 11 October 2026
- Location
- Edirne, Turkey
What people are saying
The children mentioned in the reports are not children under state protection, but unaccompanied foreign children identified in connection with irregular migration.
One of the children has returned to the facility, while efforts to find the other 13 children continue.
Sources
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