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ITALY: Migrant children are living on their own in the streets of Sicily after risking their lives in the Mediterranean

11 August 2016

The story of a group of at least 15 children, most of whom are Eritrean, struggling to survive in the station in Catania as they attempt to put together the 38 euros they need to travel to Rome, sometimes by washing cars as they hope to reach northern Europe. A recent UN report claims that Eritrea "systematically commits crimes against humanity".

When they are asked their age they all claim they are 16 or 17 even if they are noticeably younger, because 12 and 13-year-olds are detained in centres and cannot leave. Oxfam workers who try to find minors in need around Sicily explained that while some of them are in the street to seek a chance to leave Italy, others wanted to apply for protection but were left in the street before having the opportunity to do so, due to irregularities in the "hotspots".

Original article (in Spanish):
"Niños refugiados viven solos en las calles de Sicilia después de arriesgar su vida en el Mediterráneo"

Italian version (from MeltingPot):
Bambini rifugiati vivono da soli per le strade della Sicilia dopo aver rischiato la vita nel Mediterraneo

Keep in touch: Statewatch Observatory: Refugee crisis in the Med and inside the EU: Daily news (updated through the day), commentaries and official documents