UN Reports Over 900 Migrants Lost or Deceased While Attempting Mediterranean Crossing
The United Nations revealed on Friday that the number of migrants who perished or went missing while attempting to cross the Mediterranean this summer was three times higher than the figure reported during the same period last year.
Between June and August, a minimum of 990 individuals lost their lives or disappeared on the perilous central Mediterranean route connecting North Africa to Europe, in contrast to the 334 fatalities recorded during the corresponding months in 2022, according to the United Nations Children's Agency, UNICEF.
While the agency did not provide a specific figure for child fatalities during these journeys, it did report that 11,600 unaccompanied minors had been part of the group of migrants attempting to reach Italy on makeshift vessels from January to September. This marked a 60 percent increase compared to the first nine months of 2022.
Regina De Dominicis, UNICEF coordinator, lamented, "The Mediterranean has become a graveyard for children and their futures."
"The heartbreaking loss of children seeking refuge and safety in Europe is a consequence of political decisions and a flawed migration system," she remarked.
As per the UN High Commissioner for Refugees, between January 1 and September 24, 2,500 migrants perished or disappeared in the Mediterranean, marking a 50 percent increase from the same period the previous year.
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