UNICEF: Destruction of Schools is One of the Reasons for the Increase in Refugee Children

For the first time since the onset of the refugee and migrant crisis in Europe, the number of women and children crossing European borders in search of shelter has surpassed that of men. According to UNICEF, until mid-2015, one in ten refugees and migrants was a child, and now this figure has changed to one in three. Currently, children make up 36% of the number of refugees and migrants entering Europe from the Macedonian border, and when including women, this number rises to about 59%. I spoke with Sarah Crow, spokesperson for the United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF) in Geneva, about these developments. Ms. Crow, why do you think we are witnessing an increase in the mobility of women and children in migration and asylum? A comprehensive study on the reasons for this increase has not yet been conducted, but we believe that first and foremost, it reflects the desperate situation in the countries from which these individuals come. Primarily countries like Syria, Iraq, Afghanistan, and some others from which fewer people come. We know that one very important reason is the destruction of countless schools in these countries due to war and conflict, and millions of children in Syria, Iraq, and Afghanistan are not attending school. The departure of these individuals means that these countries are losing their population. As a result, this situation is a serious concern for us, and the only solution is a political option and an end to the conflict. Are you aware if these increasing numbers of women and children are those whose male family members have already reached Europe? What we know is that at the beginning of the migration crisis, i.e., from late 2014, it was mostly men who were heading towards Europe, and now this statistic is changing. We can imagine that even in situations where, for example, there is no conflict or war, men usually travel first to assess living and working conditions, and then their families follow. When we look at the situation of children, I must say that the countries these children pass through and, more importantly, the countries that accept these children must be more prepared to receive them and provide the necessary conditions. Because this situation means that this is a children's crisis. It is also a crisis for the countries that are losing this number of their population. Until today, we may have been looking at the situation in Europe; today we must also consider what these countries are losing in terms of resources. You are the spokesperson for UNICEF, the most important international organization for children. What dangers threaten these children on this journey? When children are moving along such a path, especially for those traveling unaccompanied, any change at the border, in weather, or in the actions of human traffickers poses a threat to children. If they are in a country lacking sufficient resources, information, and facilities, there is a risk that they may be left behind and at times exploited by certain groups, whether in human trafficking, drug trafficking, or sexual slavery. We urge governments to implement stronger mechanisms to protect children and are collaborating with governments to identify shortcomings and help improve this situation. We have the necessary laws and conventions; the issue is not about passing new laws but about enforcing those that have already been established. Countries from which these children come and through which they pass must consider the issue of children as their responsibility, have sufficient information about them, so that these children do not fall into the hands of traffickers and the like. We need to see a united response in this regard, not what we have seen so far where each country has its own approach, putting these children at risk. The current situation we are witnessing in the European Union is that countries are reducing the number of refugees they accept, returning some to their countries, and similar issues. Given the increase in the number of children among these refugees, is UNICEF not concerned about what will happen to these children? When we talk about children who have traveled unaccompanied, the number of them in Germany is sixty thousand and in Sweden thirty-six thousand. Not all countries have accurate information about these children who are on the move and under eighteen years old. This lack of information is also because moving children do not always register themselves as children or unaccompanied. They do not want to be detained, sent to special centers, or have their journey delayed. In any case, these children have some information or have distant relatives in a city, for example, in Germany who know the way. However, these children are in great danger because they are not registered in any system. These processes need to be expedited so that children understand how to apply for asylum, go to school, and benefit from social services. But this is not a one-way street. We must engage these children and adolescents in this process and show them how the path works.