Baby girl found dead on a boat arriving in Lampedusa, Italy, in yet another tragic event on Mediterranean shores

‘‘The number of people – including children – dying in the central Mediterranean Sea continues to rise. Today, a newborn baby girl was found dead on a boat arriving in Lampedusa from Sfax. Her mother and brother were on the boat with her, and survived. My deepest condolences go to them and the entire family.

“This year alone, more than 680 people died or disappeared along this perilous route. Many shipwrecks leave no survivors or go unregistered, making it practically impossible to verify the true number of children who have lost their lives. The majority of children making this journey do so alone, without family members. Most of children arriving have fled conflict or violence and are trying to reach Europe in search of safety and better living conditions.

“Last month, Members of the European Parliament approved the new Migration and Asylum Pact. UNICEF urges Member States to ground the implementation of policies outlined in the Pact in child rights and EU and international law. This includes ensuring coordinated search and rescue operations that help prevent deaths at sea.”