2023-07-14 17:03:51
Some 289 children died in the first six months of 2023 trying to cross the Mediterranean to reach Europe, a figure that is rising sharply, the UN announced on Friday July 14.
This figure is twice as high as that of the first six months of 2022, said the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF), calling for the creation of safe humanitarian corridors allowing children to find refuge in Europe.
“The number of children who lost their lives trying to cross the Mediterranean to reach Europe doubled in the first half of the year compared to the same period last year”declared the head of migration and displaced persons at UNICEF, Verena Knaus. “We estimate that in the first six months of this year, 11,600 children have made the crossing, also double compared to the same period of 2022”she clarified.
“Leaders must act urgently”
In the first three months of 2023, 3,300 children making the crossing (71% of the total number) were unaccompanied or had been separated from their families, according to Unicef. This figure is three times higher compared to the same period of the previous year.
“These children need to know that they are not alone. Leaders around the world must act urgently”argued Verena Knaus.
MEPs called on Thursday for the development of a “reliable and permanent search and rescue strategy” migrants in the Mediterranean, after a shipwreck in mid-June off the Greek coast which could have killed more than 600 people.
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