An estimated 3,500 children have died or disappeared over the past decade while crossing the Central Mediterranean Sea to Italy, equating to nearly one child lost every day, the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) announced Tuesday and called on governments to overhaul protections for children on the move.
The vast majority of these children were traveling alone, without a parent or guardian, making them acutely vulnerable to violence, exploitation and death. UNICEF estimates that seven out of 10 children who attempted the crossing were unaccompanied.
Regina De Dominicis, UNICEF Regional Director for Europe and Central Asia stressed that “the rights enshrined in the Convention on the Rights of the Child do not stop at borders or shores – they travel with children as they cross.”Â
The children’s journeys are often marked by trauma. More than half of child migrants surveyed report suffering physical violence along the way, and one in three say they were held somewhere against their will.
UNICEF says the dangers children face at sea reflect deeper crises on land: many are fleeing war, poverty and political instability across Africa and the Middle East. But the Mediterranean crossing—one of the deadliest migration routes in the world—often turns escape into tragedy.
At least 20,803 people—including children—have died or gone missing on this route over the past 10 years. The true toll is likely far higher, as many shipwrecks are never recorded and most of the dead are never identified, according to U.N. agencies.
While the EU Pact on Migration and Asylum—adopted in May last year—could offer a more structured approach to managing migration, UNICEF warns it must be implemented in full compliance with international child protection standards.
“Governments must protect the rights and best interests of children in line with their obligations under national and international law,” De Dominicis said.
UNICEF is calling for child-sensitive search and rescue operations at sea and a ban on the detention of minors in immigration facilities—even during screening or asylum procedures. It also calls for immediate legal representation and stronger safeguards for all children upon arrival.
On the ground in Italy, the organization works with the government and partners to provide psychosocial support, health care, and specialized services for children and women at risk of violence, exploitation and abuse.
