The central Mediterranean remains the most lethal route to Europe, the bloc's border agency Frontex confirmed late last week, noting a 140% increase in arrivals in 2023 compared to the same period last year.

Meanwhile, migrants continue to arrive at the shores of Lampedusa, where the local hotspot is currently hosting more than 1,000 guests. The facility has a capacity of 400 people.

Two-fold increase in number of children crossing

UNICEF says it estimates 11,600 children – an average of 428 a week – have arrived on the shores of Italy from North Africa since January this year. This is a two-fold increase compared to the same period in 2022, despite the grave risks involved.

The majority of children depart from Libya and Tunisia, having already made dangerous journeys from countries across Africa and the Middle East.

The central Mediterranean thus remains the main migratory route into the EU, Frontex confirmed.

“Arrivals on all other migration routes have registered a drop compared to the previous year, ranging from -6% in the Western Mediterranean to -34% along the Eastern Mediterranean," the agency said.

After a decrease in May caused by long spells of bad weather, smugglers have intensified their activities, “leading to an 85% increase of arrivals in the central Mediterranean in June," the agency said last Friday (July 14). “Unfortunately, sea crossings remain extremely dangerous."

According to data provided by the International Organization for Migration (IOM), “nearly 1,900 people disappeared in the Mediterranean in June alone – the majority along the Central Mediterranean route," the agency added.