Almost 300 children have lost their lives so far this year while trying to cross the Mediterranean Sea to Europe, the United Nations has said.
The UN has reported that 289 children are known to have died making the journey in the first half of this year.
The figure is double from the one recorded in the first six months of 2022, UNICEF has said and are now calling for expanded safe, legal and accessible pathways for children seeking refuge in Europe.
Verena Knaus, UNICEF’s global lead on migration and displacement said that the true figures of deaths is likely to be much higher as many shipwrecks are unrecorded or leave no survivors.
“The number of children who have lost their lives while attempting to cross the Mediterranean Sea to reach Europe has doubled in the first half of this year compared to the same period last year,” she said.
“In the first six months of this year, we estimate 11,600 children made the crossing – again, nearly twice as many as in the same period in 2022.”
UNICEF then added that in the first three months of 2023, around 3,300 children were recorded as unaccompanied or separated when they arrived in Europe as refugees.
The figure is three times higher than the same time last year.
“These children need to know they are not alone. World leaders must urgently act to demonstrate the undeniable worth of children’s lives, moving beyond condolences to resolute pursuit of effective solutions,” said Knaus.
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