The United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) on Thursday says at least 70 irregular migrants, including children, drowned while 100 others went missing this week off the Libyan coast.
UNICEF’s acting special representative in Libya, Lana Wreikat said in a statement: “Children continue to lose their lives amid attempts to cross the Central Mediterranean, one of the most dangerous and deadliest migration routes in the world.”
“Just this week, two children were found dead off Libya’s shores and another two are still missing due to three shipwrecks. At least 70 people drowned while another 100 are still missing,” Wreikat added.
Wreikat requested more strengthening of search and rescue mechanisms and support for the migrants and refugees.
The statement also underscored the need to address the root causes of illegal migration and to support safe migration for children and young people through expanding safe and legal pathways.
“UNICEF will continue to work with partners towards finding a safer alternative to sea crossing and long-term solutions for children attempting to cross the sea,” the statement said.
According to the International Organization for Migration, a total of 31,456 people have been intercepted and returned to Libya in 2021 while hundreds of others died and went missing off the Libyan coast on the Central Mediterranean route.