“What we know is just the tip of the iceberg. As governments continue to cut critical aid programs, more children will be pushed into taking these deadly routes.”
April 10, 2025 — According to a new analysis by Save the Children, at least 4,000 children have tragically lost their lives while migrating in search of safety since 2014. Nearly half of these children drowned during their perilous journeys, with the most dangerous routes including the Mediterranean Sea, the Sahara Desert, the Afghanistan-to-Iran migration path, and the US-Mexico border.
The charity’s report, which draws on data from the International Organization for Migration (IOM), highlights the grim reality that many child deaths occur due to hazardous transport conditions. Among these, vehicle accidents account for at least one in seven of the fatalities.
“Despite the documented deaths, the true scale of this tragedy is likely much higher. Many children who perish in these dangerous circumstances remain unidentified, and their deaths go unrecorded,” said Daniela Reale, Migration Policy & Advocacy Lead at Save the Children. “What we know is just the tip of the iceberg. As governments continue to cut critical aid programs, more children will be pushed into taking these deadly routes.”
Save the Children’s report underscores a worrying trend: cuts to foreign aid have left millions of children vulnerable, pushing them to migrate for basic needs like food, safety, and shelter. Over 40 countries have been affected by reductions in foreign aid, jeopardizing vital health, education, and protection programs for children worldwide.
“The impact of these aid cuts will be felt most acutely by vulnerable children, who are already at significant risk,” Reale warned. “Unless action is taken to address the root causes of migration and provide the necessary support, the situation will only worsen.”
As the number of child migrant deaths continues to rise, the organization calls for urgent measures to both protect children on the move and address the underlying issues driving migration.
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