A pregnant girl and a younger youngster died when two boats carrying scores of migrants sank in tough seas off the Italian island of Lampedusa on Sunday, in accordance with media reviews.
The boats had reportedly departed from Sfax, Tunisia, and lots of the passengers had been believed to be from sub-Saharan African nations.
In an announcement on Monday, Nicola Dell’Arciprete, UNICEF Nation Coordinator for the Nationwide Response in Italy, mentioned the company was deeply saddened by yet one more shipwreck within the Mediterranean.
“This time, a pregnant mom is amongst those that have misplaced their lives off the coast of Lampedusa, Italy. An 18-month-old youngster travelling with their mom has additionally died. Round 30 individuals stay lacking, together with kids. Our ideas exit to all of these affected by this tragedy,” she mentioned.
Stop deaths at sea
Ms. Dell’Arciprete recalled that through the first six months of the 12 months, no less than 289 kids have died or disappeared trying to make the Central Mediterranean Sea crossing into Europe. As many shipwrecks go away no survivors, or go on file, the true variety of youngster casualties is probably going a lot increased.
“We urge these in energy to create safer authorized pathways for migration and asylum within the European Union, and for coordinated search and rescue operations that assist stop deaths at sea. Extra have to be accomplished to guard kids of their nations of origin, nations of transit and nations of arrival,” she mentioned.
In the meantime, UNICEF is on the bottom in Lampedusa, working with the Italian Authorities and different companions to make sure kids and girls have entry to psychosocial assist, well being and different companies.
