2016 was the deadliest year on record in the Mediterranean with more than 5,000 refugee and migrant deaths at sea and 2017 could we worse still.   

The number of children attempting the crossing to Italy in 2016 increased by 76% compared to 2015 while the number of children travelling alone more than doubled.  Most of the children who come to Italy by sea do so alone – more than 90% of them - and they are extremely vulnerable to trafficking, abuse and exploitation.  

Hundreds of people – many fleeing war, violence and torture – are being forced to crowd onto boats and dinghies that can’t stand the strain. One in 37 people never make it.  

Save the Children has worked at Italian southern borders ports for more than eight years, helping keep lone children safe when they arrive on land. Our specialist and highly experienced team are now scouring the Mediterranean between Italy and North Africa to rescue children and families adrift in the water.  

Please help keep the rescue going. You can help provide water, food and emergency healthcare, as well as a safe space where children can rest, play and begin to recover from their terrifying ordeal. You can make sure our team is equipped with the supplies they need.  

The refugee crisis has divided political opinion. But for us it’s simple: children are drowning. We have to act to save lives.