Majority of Children Arriving in Italy Are Bangladeshi
Unaccompanied Migrant Children Heading to Europe on the Rise
Muslim Now Special, Dhaka, Bangladesh
Multiple United Nations agencies have reported a sharp rise in the number of child asylum seekers arriving in Europe traveling alone in 2025. Nearly two-thirds of these children reached Europe without parents or legal guardians.
At the same time, organizations have warned about the heightened risks of exploitation by human traffickers and violence along migration routes.
In a joint statement issued alongside a combined report, the UN migration agency (IOM), the UN refugee agency (UNHCR), and UNICEF stated that out of 31,100 children who arrived in Europe via mixed migration routes last year, more than 20,000 arrived without parents or legal guardians.
High Vulnerability and Dependence on Traffickers
“This report highlights the extent to which children are exposed to violence and exploitation, with limited opportunities for safe travel, forcing them to rely on traffickers. No child should have to face these risks alone,” said Amy Pope, Director General of the International Organization for Migration (IOM).
The total number of children arriving by sea and land routes in Bulgaria, Cyprus, Greece, Italy, Malta, and Spain dropped by 25 percent in 2025 compared to 2024.
However, the proportion of children registered as unaccompanied minors surged from 51 percent in 2024 to 67 percent. Among all children arriving in Europe, 78 percent were boys and 22 percent were girls.
Regional Distribution and Routes
Among the more than 14,000 minors who arrived in Italy, the majority originated from East Africa and Bangladesh. On the other hand, children arriving in Greece were predominantly citizens of Afghanistan and Syria. Those arriving in Spain were mainly nationals of Algeria, Morocco, and West African countries.
The IOM interviewed over 4,600 adolescents and young adults aged 15 to 24 across the Mediterranean Sea, Atlantic Ocean, and Western Balkan routes.
The organization reported that nearly half of them admitted to being victims of physical violence. According to IOM data, the highest incidence of such abuse occurred in Libya.
Illegal migrants in Spain filmed traveling by ferry at taxpayers’ expense Migrants arriving in the Canary Islands are regularly moved between islands — mostly from smaller, low-capacity ones to larger ones These transfers are publicly funded as part of migrant management https://t.co/0yCe4oJo16
— RT (@RT_com) October 6, 2026
The report emphasized that if these migration routes are made less safe, young people may opt for even riskier paths, making them increasingly dependent on traffickers and exposing them to higher risks of violence, exploitation, and abuse.
Calls for Global Cooperation
The three UN agencies welcomed the European Union’s Pact on Migration and Asylum, which came into force in June this year. The agencies noted that this pact holds significant potential to strengthen the protection of migrant, refugee, and stateless children.
However, they emphasized that the best interests of children must always be prioritized in all decisions concerning them.
Amy Pope stressed: “It is our shared responsibility to work together across borders to protect children, ensure their rights, and provide them with the necessary care and support.” (Source: InfoMigrants)
