A perilous journey across the Mediterranean
More than 11,600 unaccompanied children have crossed the Central Mediterranean Sea route to Italy since January
This summer has been a particularly deadly. The number of people who died or disappeared attempting to cross the Central Mediterranean Sea have tripled this summer compared to last.
Children are making this dangerous journey are in search of safety, peace, protection, and better education and opportunities. War, violence, climate and environmental challenges and poverty are driving children from their home countries.
Since January of this year, more than 11,600 unaccompanied children have made the perilous journey across the deadly Central Mediterranean Sea migration route to Italy.
These unaccompanied children are at risk of exploitation and abuse on every step of their journeys without their parents or legal guardians.
The lack of regionwide, coordinated and adequate search and rescue capacities and cooperation at sea on disembarkation compound the dangers children face when crossing.
Lampedusa, the first port of call
UNICEF/UNI443213/Antonioli
Fleeing extremely distressing situations in their home countries including armed conflict, life-threatening climate and environmental challenges, exploitation and poverty, children face limited safe and regular pathways. Regular migration channels enabled by humanitarian grounds, student or work visas, programmes for family reunification, or refugee resettlement are limited, and closed to most.
UNICEF/UNI443175/Antonioli
Children who undertake these harrowing journeys alone are often placed in overcrowded inflatable dinghies or shoddy wooden fishing boats unsuitable for poor weather conditions.
Some are placed in the hold of the ship, some on iron barges – particularly dangerous for navigation. Some may have been separated from their families on route or may be trying to join parents or other family members in arrival countries. Some are victims of child trafficking.
UNICEF/UNI443179/Corti
The number of children crossing alone represents around 70 per cent of all children making the crossing.
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The summer was particularly deadly for crossings. Between June and August this year, more than 990 people including children died or disappeared as they attempted to cross the Central Mediterranean Sea, triple the number compared to the same period last summer. Many shipwrecks leave no survivors or go unrecorded, making the true number of casualties likely much higher.
UNICEF/UNI443176/Corti
Children who survive their journeys are first held in centres known as ‘hotspots’ before being transferred to reception facilities. More than 21,700 unaccompanied children across Italy are currently in these facilities.
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Often the first port of call for children and families seeking asylum and safety is Lampedusa, a small island in the south of Italy.
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In Lampedusa, UNICEF is on the ground providing essential protection services including mental health and psychosocial support, access to information and referral to specialized services, supported by the European Commission's Directorate General for Migration and Home Affairs (HOME) as part of the PROTECT project.
UNICEF/UNI443163/Antonioli
Working with governments and partners UNICEF continues to help children access critical services including protection, mental health and psychosocial support, gender-based violence prevention and education. UNICEF works to support the long-term integration of refugee and migrant children into host communities and strengthen national child protection systems to benefit all vulnerable children.
UNICEF/UNI443165/Antonioli
UNICEF combats the issue on both ends by working with countries of origin to help address the root causes behind children fleeing and strengthening systems and support in communities of origin, prevent and mitigate risks children face as they move and provide support and inclusive services to all children, regardless of their or their parents’ legal status.
UNICEF/UNI443182/Corti
By providing support to help identify solutions and strengthen family-based foster care for unaccompanied and separated children and initiatives to support volunteer tutors, UNICEF provides information to unaccompanied and separated children, adolescents and women on available services and the main issues related to guardianship.
