Geneva:

A decade after one of the deadliest shipwrecks in the Mediterranean’s recent history, the tragic toll of child deaths on the dangerous Central Mediterranean migration route continues to mount. In stark remarks delivered today at the Palais des Nations in Geneva, Nicola Dell’Arciprete, UNICEF’s Country Coordinator in Italy, revealed that an estimated 3,500 children have died or gone missing attempting the journey to Europe over the past ten years.

The figure averages one child lost every day, and Dell’Arciprete warned that this number is likely a significant undercount, given the many unrecorded shipwrecks and undocumented disappearances.

“Ten years ago, around 1,050 people climbed aboard a flimsy wooden boat in Tripoli, Libya… Only 28 survived,” Dell’Arciprete recalled. The disaster, which claimed over 1,000 lives, sparked international outrage and vows that such tragedies would never happen again.

“But the promises of ‘never again’ have not been kept,” she said.

Since then, more than 20,800 people have died on the Central Mediterranean route. Children account for nearly 17% of those making the crossing — and 70% of those children are traveling alone, without a parent or legal guardian. These unaccompanied minors are among the most vulnerable, often falling prey to traffickers, enduring abuse, and risking their lives aboard unsafe vessels.

In her remarks, Dell’Arciprete painted a grim picture of the suffering children endure in their quest for safety. Some arrive in Italy with burn injuries caused by fuel exposure, having spent days crammed into dark, airless cargo holds. Others show signs of trauma and neglect, bearing the psychological scars of exploitation and danger at every step of their journey.

“This is the price of the lack of safe, legal pathways – a price that is paid by children,” she said. “And it keeps the money flowing into the pockets of the traffickers.”

As the peak arrival season begins, Dell’Arciprete issued an urgent call for governments across Europe to act decisively and with compassion. She urged the use of the Migration and Asylum Pact to prioritize child protection and rights in migration policies.

UNICEF’s key recommendations include:

Coordinated search and rescue missions

Safe and predictable disembarkation procedures

Community-based reception systems

Full access to asylum services

Investment in services for all migrant children, regardless of their origin

Dell’Arciprete emphasized that every child arriving in Europe – even in migration or first-reception centers – is entitled to the same rights and services as children born in the EU.

Lampedusa, a frontline island in the Mediterranean migration crisis, has seen a recent uptick in arrivals. Dell’Arciprete reported that in just a few days, around 1,000 people had arrived, including eighty unaccompanied minors.

While the current situation is under control, she warned of growing concerns regarding the capacity of first-reception facilities, the duration of children’s stays, and the ability to ensure proper care as arrivals increase in the summer months.

“More children are risking their lives to reach safety, and the urgency to act with principle and resolve has never been greater,” Dell’Arciprete concluded. “We need action now.”

UNICEF continues to work on the ground in Italy, collaborating with the government and local partners to meet children’s immediate needs and support their integration. The organization is also active in countries of origin, addressing the root causes that drive migration — including conflict, poverty, and climate change.

As Europe reflects on a decade since the 2015 tragedy, UNICEF’s powerful message resounds: until safe pathways are created and child rights are fully protected, the Mediterranean will remain a graveyard for those seeking hope.