April 23 2015
SOS Children's Villages: Europe must work to protect child migrants
After the latest loss at sea of hundreds of desperate adults and children attempting to migrate to Europe, SOS Children's Villages International asks European governments to act together to prevent further such tragedies and protect child migrants.
On Sunday, 19 April, around 800 migrants, including children, are believed to have drowned after their boat capsized off the coast of Libya, bringing the number of migrants feared to have drowned in the Mediterranean this year alone to close to 1,600.
Last year, 3,500 migrants are believed to have died attempting the perilous crossing. The UN High Commissioner for Refugees has said the latest sinking could amount to the largest loss of life during a migrant crossing to Europe.
SOS Children's Villages International CEO Richard Pichler commented:
“Devastatingly, children are the most vulnerable victims. The European Union has an ethical, humanitarian responsibility to adopt a unified, effective strategy that helps diminish the risk faced by children and desperate adults of dying at sea, right on Europe’s doorstep.”