People smuggling

‘Billion-dollar business route’ of people smugglers is deadly journey for women and children, UNICEF reports

IT’S a deadly journey that has claimed countless lives. Now the route hundreds of thousands of people have used to cross Africa into Europe has been uncovered, showcasing the extent of the humanitarian tragedy.

The latest UNICEF report, A deadly journey for children, shows how people from countries including Nigeria, Somalia, Sudan, Egypt, Mali and Senegal cross deserts and risk death to transit through Niger and Chad into Libya.

They then face a final relatively short but perilous crossing over the Mediterranean towards Italy and Greece that has claimed nearly 5000 lives last year including 700 children.

Based on eyewitness interviews with 122 people including 82 women and 40 children from 11 different nationalities, the report presents a picture of the risks undertaken in a chance for a better life.