Highlights
• Since January 2015, more than 1,200,000 people crossed the Mediterranean. From late 2015 and onwards there has been a steady increase in the proportion of children among refugees and migrants not only on the Eastern Mediterranean, but also on the more dangerous and perilous Central Mediterranean migration route. Currently this proportion stands at 35 per cent of all arrivals in 2016. In addition, it is estimated that almost 500 children lost their lives in the Eastern and Central Mediterranean since the beginning of 2016.
• More than 7,000 refugee and migrant unaccompanied and separated children (UASC) have arrived in Italy between January and May 2016, representing a 129 per cent increase in comparison to the same period last year. To respond to the increasing needs of UASC arriving in Italy, on 27 May UNICEF and the Government of Italy signed a joint declaration for collaboration to improve the care and protection of refugee and migrant children.
• In May 2016, nearly 1,170 children were able to play, learn and receive psychosocial support in UNICEF child-friendly spaces and child and family support hubs in Greece, the Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, Serbia, Croatia and Slovenia. These activities are complemented by broader capacity- building and technical assistance to Governments across Europe.
• UNICEF continues to work closely with national authorities and partners across south-east Europe and provide guidance and technical assistance on child nutrition and infant and young child feeding (IYCF). In addition, some 50 babies and infants, and nearly 85 mothers and pregnant women benefitted from infant and IYCF counselling and emotional and psychosocial support in the Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia and Serbia.
• To adapt its response to the needs of refugee and migrant children in Greece Turkey and other countries in Europe, UNICEF has reviewed its Humanitarian Action for Children programmatic response and funding requirements, reflected in the revised Regional Refugee and Migrant Response Plan. The increasing use of dangerous illegal routes by children, whether travelling alone or with their families, coupled with placement of children in de-facto detention, multiplication of cases of abuse and violence in accommodation centres and tighter national migration policies are among the major challenges for UNICEF humanitarian action.
Situation in numbers
211,385: # of arrivals in Europe by sea in 2016 (UNHCR, 12 June 2016)
157,396: # of arrivals by sea through Greece in 2016 (UNHCR, 12 June 2016)
38 per cent children
52,637: # of arrivals by sea through Italy in 2016 (UNHCR, 12 June 2016)
17 per cent children
57,074: # of stranded people in south-east Europe (IOM, 8 June 2016)
40 per cent children
UNICEF Revised Appeal 2016: US$ 31,375,228