At least two youngsters drown on common day by day whereas making an attempt to cross the central Mediterranean as a result of “absence of safe and legal routes,” the U.N. Children’s Agency, UNICEF, stated Friday.
The variety of youngsters which have misplaced their lives whereas trying to cross the Mediterranean to succeed in Europe has doubled in comparison with final yr, Verena Knaus, the UNICEF’s international chief on migration and displacement, instructed a U.N. press briefing in Geneva.
These numbers, she stated, are pushed by conflicts in Sudan, the Democratic Republic of the Congo, West Africa, and at the same time as far-off as Afghanistan.
In the primary six months of 2023 alone, 289 youngsters have died, Knaus stated, equal to round 11 youngsters dying each week. In the identical interval, the entire variety of youngsters recorded which have tried to cross is round 11,600, she added.
“They are literally drowning in the inaction of governments around the shores,” she stated.
“Children are dying because there is an absence of safe and legal routes. Children are dying because there are no robust search and rescue capacities deployed to prevent such deaths. And children are dying because they’re so desperate in their countries and unable to seek protection in countries they cross.”
“These deaths are absolutely preventable,” she added.
Regarding the determine of the kids who take these perilous journeys alone, Knaus stated that their numbers tripled in comparison with final yr as practically 3,000 youngsters made the crossing alone – 71% of all youngsters making the crossing.
“These children need to know they are not alone. World leaders must urgently act to demonstrate the undeniable worth of children’s lives, moving beyond condolences to resolute pursuit of effective solutions,” stated Knaus.
Source: www.dailysabah.com
