ROME - Between June and August of this year, at least 990 people, including children, have died or gone missing while attempting to cross the central Mediterranean, three times the number from the same period last summer. Currently, over 21,700 unaccompanied foreign minors are in various facilities across Italy, compared to 17,700 a year ago.

 Lampedusa, a small island in southern Italy, is often the first port of arrival for people seeking asylum, safety, and opportunities in Europe. The number of arrivals on the island reached its peak this month, with 4,800 people arriving in a single day. Data show that unaccompanied minors are at risk of exploitation and abuse at every stage of their journey, with girls and children from sub-Saharan Africa most likely to suffer abuse.

 "The Mediterranean Sea has become a graveyard for children and their future. The tragic toll of child casualties seeking asylum and safety in Europe is the result of political choices and a crisis-ridden migration system," said Regina De Dominicis, UNICEF Regional Director for Europe and Central Asia and Special Coordinator for Refugee and Migrant Response in Europe. "Adopting a European-level response to support children and families seeking asylum and safety and sustained increases in international aid to support countries dealing with multiple crises are desperately needed to prevent more children from suffering."

 In accordance with international law and the Convention on the Rights of the Child, UNICEF calls on governments to provide safer and legal pathways for asylum requests, ensure children are not detained in closed facilities, strengthen national child protection systems to better safeguard migrating children, coordinate search and rescue operations, and ensure safe landing.

 On Lampedusa, UNICEF provides essential protection services, including mental health and psychosocial support, access to information, and guidance to specialized services. This work is supported by the Directorate-General for Migration and Home Affairs (HOME) of the European Commission as part of the PROTECT project.

On Friday, in Rome, at the Foreign Press Association, a press conference was held to present updated data on the sea arrivals of unaccompanied foreign minors and the results of a field mission in Lampedusa involving UNICEF Italy Spokesperson Andrea Iacomini. Nicola Dell’Arciprete, Coordinator of the UNICEF response in Italy, will provide an overview of the current situation and the UNICEF program in Italy.