UN: The world ignores the deaths of children in the Mediterranean

Vera Knaus, world leader for migration and displacement, spoke to journalists in Geneva, Switzerland, about the children who lost their lives crossing the Mediterranean, UNICEF said in a statement.

Noting that 289 children died in the middle of this year, Knaus said that this number has doubled compared to the same period last year. Noting that this number is “far beyond what you see in the news headlines,” Knaus stressed that the number in question equates to the deaths of approximately 11 children each week.

“A PLANE FULL” OF CHILDREN DIES IN JUST 6 MONTHS

Knaus stressed that it is not possible to sit idly by and watch “an airplane full” of children die in just 6 months.

Pointing out that regional conflicts and climate change have forced many children to embark on a dangerous sea voyage from North Africa to Europe, Knaus said an estimated 11,600 children crossed the Mediterranean in the first half of the year, and this figure is around 2022 compared to the same period. He said it was double.

UNICEF estimates that the actual number of child deaths is higher due to the many missing or recorded shipwrecks in the central Mediterranean.

“Hundreds of children are drowning in the world’s inaction”

Emphasizing that many of these deaths were preventable, Knaus said, “The world deliberately ignores these deaths.” saying.

Noting that the central Mediterranean is one of the “deadliest” migration routes for children, Knaus said: “Hundreds of girls and boys are drowning in the world’s inaction.” she performed her assessment.

Noting that 3,300 children arrived in Europe without their parents in the first three months of the year, Knaus said girls traveling alone are even more vulnerable to violence.

Knaus called on countries in the region and the European Union (EU) to do more to protect vulnerable children, both at sea and in their destination countries, stressing the importance of the need for safe, legal and accessible for children to gather. with their families.

Recalling that the task of rescuing a ship in distress is a fundamental rule in international maritime law, Knaus stressed that the act of pushing back at sea or land borders means a violation of national, EU and international law. (AA)