Financial support for young refugees in North Saxony is to be discontinued.

In North Saxony, the accommodation and care of unaccompanied, underage asylum seekers has become a pressing issue. The County Administrator, Kai Emanuel, is expressing concern over the state of Saxony not paying its refugee bills, which have accumulated to a total of over 8.5 million euros, with no reimbursements made this year.

Last year, there were 75 unaccompanied underage foreign nationals in North Saxony's care, a number that has decreased to 52 this year. Most of these minors hailed from Syria and Afghanistan. The unpaid bills amount to approximately 1 million euros per quarter for North Saxony.

Emanuel contemplates initiating a dunning procedure against the Free State of Saxony, a potential response to the mounting unpaid refugee bills. However, this action could threaten enforcement actions.

The responsibility for the accommodation and care of unaccompanied minor asylum seekers lies primarily with the youth welfare offices in Saxony. These offices are mandated to act in the best interests of the child according to legal child welfare frameworks.

Emanuel states that whoever orders (i.e., the state of Saxony) has to pay for the services provided. He expresses that the situation puts a strain on the county's finances and questions when the gravity of the financial situation will be understood.

The financial plight of North Saxony County is well-known, and Emanuel uses the phrase, "The lid is on," indicating a sense of urgency or finality in the situation. The total outstanding amount for the years 2023 and 2024 is more than 7 million euros.

The dunning procedure, if initiated, could serve as a call for action to address this long-standing issue. Emanuel's concerns highlight the importance of timely and adequate funding to ensure the proper care and accommodation of unaccompanied minors in North Saxony.