by AHMED ZAYED
TRIPOLI – THE death of two young children in the central Mediterranean route is another devastating reminder of the risks faced by those attempting to reach Europe in search of safety.
Aged three and four, they died from dehydration in a rubber dinghy found adrift on Sunday.
The boat, which departed from Libya and carrying 62 people including several children, had reportedly been stranded at sea for days after its engine lost power.
The United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) reports that by the time rescuers arrived, the two children had been dead for almost a day.
Survivors reported that another person had drowned earlier in the journey.
Many of those rescued had suffered severe chemical burns from a mix of seawater and spilled fuel, which experts have described as extremely painful and dangerous injuries that require urgent medical care.
UNICEF reports that all survivors were eventually transferred to the Italian coast guard and taken to Lampedusa.
“This incident and the countless that have happened prior underscore the urgent need for timely and coordinated search and rescue missions,” said Regina De Dominicis, UNICEF Regional Director for Europe and Central Asia and Special Coordinator for the Refugee and Migrant Response in Europe.
The envoy reiterated calls on governments to uphold their obligations under international law.
She appealed for investment in services that provide children and families with the support they need to overcome such journeys.
“The central Mediterranean remains one of the most dangerous migration routes in the world. Without immediate action, more lives will continue to be lost,” De Dominicus concluded.
