Rome: The United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) has revealed a significant and troubling statistic: approximately 3,500 migrant children have died or gone missing while attempting to cross the Mediterranean Sea over the past decade. This figure averages out to one child dying or going missing every single day.
According to National Iraqi News Agency, UNICEF’s report, released on Tuesday, indicates that the actual number of children who have perished or disappeared may be even higher than current estimates. The Central Mediterranean route, which extends from North Africa to Italy, is identified as one of the most perilous migration paths globally. The International Organization for Migration reports that around 22,000 migrants have been reported dead or missing on this route since 2014.
UNICEF’s findings highlight that one in six migrants on this dangerous passage is a child, with the majority traveling alone. The organization points out that previous data indicated 80% of children and youth on this route faced exploitation. A tragic shipwreck on April 18, 2015, which resulted in over 1,000 fatalities, was expected to trigger increased international cooperation to safeguard migrant children. However, UNICEF underscores that drownings have persisted frequently over the last decade, leading to thousands of child fatalities.
The organization urges the implementation of protective measures for migrant children, such as ending their detention or the detention of asylum seekers, and stresses the significance of family unity as a fundamental means of safeguarding minors. The Italian government, led by Giorgia Meloni, had previously committed to stringent measures to curb irregular migration, including funding agreements with Tunisia and Libya aimed at reducing migrant departures.
The Italian Ministry of Interior reports that 11,805 migrants have landed on the country’s shores since the start of the year, with 1,588 of them being unaccompanied minors. In 2024, 8,034 unaccompanied minors arrived, marking a decrease from 18,820 in 2023.