Unaccompanied and separated children account for 14% of all new arrivals in Italy in 2016.

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.

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

To offer alternatives to dangerous journeys to Europe, UNHCR seeks support for a comprehensive strategy with interventions at three different points: in the countries of origin and transit in sub-Saharan Africa, in North Africa, and in the destination countries in Europe.

The number of new arrivals in Greece's eastern Aegean islands, which accelerated in August, is putting pressure on overcrowded reception facilities and hampering efforts to improve conditions.

UNHCR urges EU Member States to promptly relocate all asylum-seekers eligible under the EU’s emergency relocation scheme and for it to continue beyond the two years originally planned.

After reports of some 160 deaths in the Mediterranean, UNHCR renews its appeal to countries for help in saving human lives by offering more resettlement places and other safe alternatives to protection for refugees, including through family reunification.

UNHCR, the UN Refugee Agency is relieved that the remaining rescued persons on board the Italian coast guard vessel ‘Diciotti’ have now disembarked. UNHCR commends those countries and organisations that have shown solidarity and given tangible assistance. Established and predictable arrangements in the Mediterranean region for the disembarkation of people rescued at sea is strongly encouraged.

Refugees and migrants attempting to reach Europe via the Mediterranean Sea lost their lives at an alarming rate in 2018, as cuts in search and rescue operations reinforced its position as the world’s deadliest sea crossing. The latest ‘Desperate Journeys’ report, released today by UNHCR, the UN Refugee Agency, says six lives were lost on average every day. An estimated 2,275 died or went missing crossing the Mediterranean in 2018, despite a major drop in the number of arrivals reaching European shores. In total, 139,300 refugees and migrants arrived in Europe, the lowest number in five years.

Amid hostilities in Libya, 146 refugees evacuated to Italy. 146 refugees were evacuated today from Libya to Italy in a joint operation between UNHCR, the UN Refugee Agency, and Italian and Libyan authorities. Italy is the first country to have stepped forward to receive evacuees from Libya since the recent violence began. The evacuation was carried out in collaboration with the Libyan Ministry of Interior.