The number of refugee children trying to reach Europe by boat has doubled in the last year, with thousands now attempting the deadly Mediterranean crossing every month, Unicef has warned.
More than 25,000 youngsters – nine out ten of whom were unaccompanied – made the perilous journey in 2016.
On the deadliest sea route, between Libya and Italy, an estimated 4,579 people died, including more than 700 children.
The figures are published in the UN agency’s latest report on the refugee crisis, which details harrowing accounts of migrant children and women who have suffered sexual violence, exploitation, abuse and detention during their journey.
Written by Tom Batchelor. This article first appeared in The Independent on February 28, 2017.