The United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF) announced that "more than 11,600 children crossed the Mediterranean Sea to Italy without their parents or legal guardians between January and mid-September of this year." They indicated that "this number represents a 60% increase compared to the same period last year, when around 7,200 unaccompanied or separated children crossed the perilous route."
They reported that "children undertaking these journeys alone are placed on overcrowded rubber boats or dilapidated wooden fishing vessels unfit for bad weather conditions. Some are also kept in ship holds." Additionally, they stated that "the lack of coordinated and adequate search and rescue capabilities at the regional level, and cooperation at sea regarding disembarkation, exacerbates the risks faced by children during the crossing."
Furthermore, it was clarified that "at least 990 people, including children, died or went missing while attempting to cross the Mediterranean Sea between June and August of this year, which is three times the number recorded in the same period last summer."
