New York – Two UN agencies have agreed to set up special support centres for children and families along the most frequently used migration routes across the continent.
The UNHCR and UNICEF said in joint statement on Friday, that this is part of a joint effort to increase protection for the growing numbers of children and others with specific needs arriving in Europe.
The agencies said that some 20 Child and Family Support Hubs, called ‘Blue Dots’, will provide a safe space for children and their families, as well as vital services, play, protection and counselling in a single location.
They said the hubs aim is to support vulnerable families on the move, especially the many unaccompanied or separated children at risk of sickness, trauma, violence, exploitation and trafficking.
The UNHCR Assistant High Commissioner for Protection, Mr Volker Türk, in a statement said, “we are concerned about the welfare of unaccompanied boys and girls on the move and unprotected across Europe.
“Many of them have experienced war and hardship in making these journeys alone.
“The hubs will play a key role in identifying these children and providing the protection they need in an unfamiliar environment, where they may be at risk.”
The UN agencies added that the first hubs are now operational or about to open in Croatia, the Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, Greece, Serbia and Slovenia.
All 20 of the hubs, they said will be operational within the next three months.[pro_ad_display_adzone id=”70560”]
The agencies said the hubs come at a time when women and children account for two thirds of those crossing to Europe.
In February, the UN says women and children made up nearly 60 per cent of sea arrivals, compared with 27 per cent in September 2015.
The centres, the agencies said, will also aim to identify and protect children and adolescents travelling alone, and reunite them with family wherever possible.
It quoted Ms Marie-Pierre Poirier, UNICEF’s Special Co-ordinator for the Refugee and Migrant Crisis in Europe as saying:”the lives of children on the move have been turned upside down; they have faced turmoil and distress every step of the way.
In some countries, they said, young travellers pretend to be adults to avoid being delayed or detained on their journey, exposing them to the risk of exploitation.
The agencies added that in 2015, no fewer than 90,000 unaccompanied or separated children registered and applied for asylum or were in care in Europe, mostly in Germany and Sweden.
The UN said the hubs will be located in select strategic sites, border entry/exit points, registration sites and some strategic urban centres, as well as through mobile/outreach teams.
The services include restoring family links, services provided by the Red Cross and Red Crescent network; family reunification; child-friendly spaces and dedicated mother and baby/toddler spaces.
Others are private rooms for counselling; psycho-social first aid; legal counselling; safe spaces for women and children to sleep; outreach social workers and an information desk with Wi-Fi connectivity. (NAN)