The UN children's agency, UNICEF, disclosed a concerning trend of record-breaking child migration across Latin America and the Caribbean, many of them unaccompanied, originating from places as distant as Asia and Africa. Recent data reveals that over the past three years, the proportion of children traversing the major migration routes in this region has surged to an all-time high of 25 percent, up from 19 percent in 2019, AP reported.
Globally, children constitute 13 percent of the migrating population, with Latin America and the Caribbean, closely followed by Sub-Saharan Africa, accounting for the highest percentages at 25 percent. The reasons driving child migration are multifaceted and intricate, spanning issues such as rampant gang violence, the escalating impact of climate change, and exacerbated socio-economic disparities, all intensified by the repercussions of the COVID-19 pandemic and ensuing lockdowns, explained Gary Conille, UNICEF's Latin America and Caribbean director.
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Conille further highlighted a disturbing trend of children migrating at increasingly younger ages. UNICEF emphasized that children below 11 years old now make up as much as 91 percent of youngsters at critical transit points. In one of the most perilous routes through the Darien jungle connecting Colombia and Panama, UNICEF reported an alarming increase, with approximately 29,000 children making the treacherous crossing in 2021, a staggering 40,000 in 2022, and over 60,000 in the initial eight months of 2023, half of them being under the age of five.
As a result, 2023 has already set a grim record for the highest number of child crossings. Conille underlined the severe challenges faced by these children, including diseases, injuries, family separations, and abuse throughout their journeys. Even upon reaching their intended destinations, their futures often remain precarious.
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The situation at the US southern border also reflects a concerning surge in apprehensions of refugee and migrant children. According to UNICEF, the US Customs and Border Protection documented over 149,000 child crossings in fiscal year 2021, which increased to more than 155,000 in fiscal year 2022, and surpassed 83,000 in the initial eight months of fiscal year 2023.
Conille emphasized the unparalleled complexity and scale of the challenges confronting these migrating children in Latin America and the Caribbean, calling for immediate attention and resolute action. UNICEF, in collaboration with governments and civil society organizations, is actively providing aid and support to migrants, refugees, and displaced children across 20 countries in the region.
Despite these efforts, UNICEF's appeal for USD 160.5 million to address the needs of refugee and migrant children in several countries received less than 20 percent, approximately USD 32.5 million, as of August. Additionally, the appeal for USD 142.3 million to assist children and migrant families along the migration route through Central America and Mexico in 2023 has only received 26 percent of the required funding.
