Refugee and Migrant Crisis in Europe Appeal
Humanitarian Action for Children
UNICEF’s Humanitarian Action for Children appeal helps support the agency’s work as it
provides conflict- and disaster-affected children with access to water, sanitation, nutrition,
education, health and protection services. Return to main appeal page.
Refugee and migrant response in Europe snapshot
Appeal highlights
- Between January and August 2021, an estimated 97,000 refugees and migrants arrived in Europe, a 95 per cent increase compared to the same period in 2020.This trend is likely to continue in 2022.The current number includes some 25,000 children, among whom 9,300 are unaccompanied or separated. Children on the move remain one of the most vulnerable groups requiring sustained and urgent care and protection in 2022.
- The COVID-19 pandemic has set back years of progress in advancing children’s health, education and protection. These and other socioeconomic impacts have stretched country capacities to sustain and respond to the humanitarian needs of refugees and migrants.
- Now more than ever, UNICEF must continue to work with other United Nations agencies and partners to support host governments and communities to mitigate the impacts of COVID-19 and protect the rights of children and families on the move.
- In 2022, UNICEF requires US$42 million to support host governments in ensuring that refugee and migrant children and families arriving in Europe have access to health, nutrition, protection, water sanitation and hygiene, as well as education services.
Key planned results for 2022
35,201 women and children accessing gender-based violence mitigation, prevention, response
5,885 unaccompanied / separated children accessing family-based care or suitable alternative
33,490 children accessing educational services
132,430 people engaged in risk communication and community engagement actions
Funding requirements for 2022
Country needs and strategy
Humanitarian needs
In August 2021, European countries hosted more than 655,000 refugees and migrants (23 per cent children) in reception centres or other accommodation arrangements. In 2021, the easing of COVID-19 containment measures enabled international mobility to resume, and between January and August, over 97,000 refugees and migrants (25 per cent children, among whom 38 per cent are unaccompanied or separated) arrived in Bosnia and Herzegovina, Bulgaria, Greece, Italy, Montenegro and Serbia – a 95 per cent increase compared to the same period in 2020. It can be expected that the number of people fleeing from ongoing and rapidly deteriorating humanitarian situations in Afghanistan, Syria and other northern and sub-Saharan countries will continue to grow in 2022. In 2021, Italy registered nearly 40,000 new arrivals and currently hosts Europe’s largest refugee and migrant caseload of 377,000 people, including 77,000 children (8,000 unaccompanied or separated). Between January and August, 33,784 refugees and migrants arrived in Serbia,11,492 in Bosnia and Herzegovina, 4,934 in Bulgaria, and 2,330 in Montenegro. Compared to the previous year, the net number of new arrivals in Greece decreased. However, the current caseload remains significant with 75,000 people, including 31,000 children (2,400 unaccompanied or separated) registered.
The surge in the number of new arrivals has overstretched the capacity of countries to sustain support to refugee and migrant populations and respond to increased caseloads. Overcrowded reception facilities have generated additional challenges in providing adequate sanitation and hygiene facilities, sufficient access to health and protection services and learning opportunities for children and families. Insufficient measures to prevent and address gender-based violence (GBV) put women and girls at increased risk. Inadequate reception, identification, protection mechanisms and limited availability of alternative care and legal guardianship options exacerbate the vulnerability of unaccompanied and separated children. Strict COVID-19 quarantine measures imposed at under-resourced arrival and transit centres create additional psychosocial distress for families and further deprivations for children and adolescents. Social distancing, for example, has reduced spaces for in-person learning, and lack of digital devices and connectivity denied access to online education.
In light of the continuing deterioration of the humanitarian situation at the global level, it is expected that the number of people seeking refuge in Europe will continue to grow. To manage any additional influx of refugees and migrants and mitigate potential risks to already vulnerable populations in a sustainable manner, multi-sectoral advocacy, coordination and inclusive responses at local, national and European Union levels remain a priority.
UNICEF’s strategy
UNICEF's refugee and migrant response in Europe will adapt to the evolving COVID-19 context and other crises. In 2022, UNICEF will continue to work with national authorities, the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees and other United Nations agencies, as well as civil society organizations, to ensure rights of children and families on the move are protected. UNICEF will focus on evidence-based advocacy and support governments in aligning national policies with international norms. UNICEF will invest in strengthening national systems and capacities to address immediate and longer-term needs of refugee and migrant children, including those with disabilities. Actions include improving reception conditions and ensuring essential services in health, nutrition, education, water, sanitation and hygiene (WASH), and child protection and gender-based violence. UNICEF will enhance capacities of health professionals, social workers and front-line responders to identify and mitigate health and protection risks, and accompany children and families through the asylum process. Access to legal aid and appropriate care and guardianship for unaccompanied children, preferably in communities, will be prioritized. Children will access education, including early learning, through formal and non-formal systems. Teachers will be trained to support inclusive education and blended learning. Mothers will be supported in accessing health and nutrition services, and children will benefit from health check-ups and life-saving vaccines. GBV survivors and at-risk groups will receive age and gender appropriate information, referrals and support. Unaccompanied and separated children and youth will have access to integrated mental health and psychosocial support (MHPSS) and have opportunities to learn life skills and be given a platform to voice their concerns. Information on COVID-19 prevention and access to services will reach refugee and migrant population. UNICEF will continue to advocate for the integration of refugees and migrants in national COVID-19 vaccine roll-out plans, and will ensure children and families receive WASH supplies and winter clothing.
At regional level, UNICEF will support risk monitoring and coordination to enhance preparedness and support knowledge management. It will continue to provide technical and surge support on specialized protection services to refugee and migrant children, with a focus on unaccompanied and separated children in front-line countries hosting refugees and migrants. For example, the regional Child Protection Specialist deployed to Ceuta, Spain has been providing technical and coordination support, including conducting rapid Best Interest Assessments (BIA) and subsequent determinations (BID). UNICEF will support inter-agency advocacy to mainstream children’s rights into the European Union Pact on Migration. UNICEF's advocacy efforts will focus on national and regional policy reforms that uphold children’s right to safe migration and improve BID and age assessment procedures. UNICEF will advocate for an end to child immigration detention, for unhindered access to social services, as well as for the relocation of unaccompanied and separated children to other European Union Member States.
Programme targets
Find out more about UNICEF's work
Highlights
Humanitarian Action is at the core of UNICEF’s mandate to realize the rights of every child. This edition of Humanitarian Action for Children – UNICEF’s annual humanitarian fundraising appeal – describes the ongoing crises affecting refugee and migrant girls and boys in Europe; the strategies that we are using to respond to these situations; and the donor support that is essential in this response.
