from AHMED ZAYED in Tripoli, Libya
Libya Bureau
TRIPOLI, (CAJ News) – NO less than 4 000 children have died in the past decade trying to escape conflict, hunger, climate shocks, and death in search of hope and a brighter future.
The true number is likely to be much higher due to a lack of disaggregated data on child migrants.
“This staggering number is just the tip of the iceberg as these fatalities only represent children who have been found, identified and documented as children,” said Daniela Reale, Save the Children’s Migration Policy and Advocacy Lead.
The official said, “The true scale is likely much higher. And that number will only continue to rise as governments continue slashing critical aid that aims at addressing the root causes of migration before it happens.”
Save the Children disclosed an analysis of International Organisation for Migration (IOM) data showed at least 4 044 children died between 2014 and the start of 2025 while on migration routes, many fleeing conflict, hunger and climate shocks.
Almost half of all recorded child migrant deaths were caused by drowning, while at least one in every seven deaths resulted from vehicle accidents or dangerous transport conditions.
“Migration routes are increasingly becoming graveyards for children,” Reale lamented.
Most migrants from Africa seeking better opportunities attempt to enter Europe through the Mediterranean, via Libya.
Save the Children is calling on all governments to more rigorously collect data on migrant children, including information on their health, education, protection and deaths.
It is feared recent cuts to foreign aid are jeopardising health, nutrition, livelihood, and education programmes for millions of children, which could force more minors to undertake deadly journeys in search of safety.
– CAJ News