UNHCR and UNICEF welcome the call made by the European Commission to Member States to increase resettlement and other legal pathways for children to safely reach Europe.

UNHCR and UNICEF hope that new EU guidelines will be concrete contribution to the protection of the many children who arrive to Europe after having been forced to flee their homes due to violence, war and conflict.

Physical barriers and restrictive policies in Hungary have resulted in effectively denying access to territory and asylum for those in need of international protection.

Latest shipwreck in the Mediterranean comes as a stark reminder of the vital importance of robust search and rescue capacities.

NGOs provide additional and much needed rescue capacity. In 2016, 26 per cent of all rescue operations in the central Mediterranean were performed by NGOs, more than twice than the previous year.

Saving lives at sea must remain key priority. UNHCR commends the action of the Italian Coast Guard in coordination with Frontex, the European Border and Coast Guard Agency.

Joint efforts and strengthened cooperation are crucial to improving the situation for asylum-seekers and refugees in Greece.

UNHCR issued eight recommendations to help ensure a sustainable refugee response in Greece.

UNHCR is deeply concerned at a new Hungarian law which foresees the mandatory detention of all asylum seekers, including many children, for the entire length of the asylum procedure.

In 2016 87% of those arriving by sea to Greece came from the top ten refugee producing countries.