Pregnant woman dies and several children remain missing after boat capsizes off the coast of Lampedusa
Statement by Nicola Dell'Arciprete, UNICEF Country Coordinator in Italy
ROME, 18 October 2025 – "A pregnant woman has been confirmed dead, and several children remain missing following yet another tragic shipwreck off the coast of Lampedusa. Survivors report that around 35 people departed Al Khums, Libya, aboard a small fiberglass boat. After two days at sea, the boat capsized off the coast of Lampedusa. So far, 11 people – including four children travelling alone – were rescued by the Italian Coast Guard.
"This tragedy once again highlights the deadly risks that children and families face on the Central Mediterranean route. Every life lost at sea underscores the urgent need for coordinated search and rescue operations, safe disembarkation, community-based reception, and access to asylum services.
"UNICEF calls on governments to use the Migration and Asylum Pact to prioritize the protection of children, including ensuring safe and legal pathways for protection and family reunification. We also urge increased investment in essential services for children and families arriving via dangerous migration routes, including psychosocial support, legal aid, health care, and education."
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