Charity in lifesaving bid as Mediterranean child refugee numbers skyrocket.

A charity has launched an emergency appeal for £1m to help save the lives of refugee children in the Mediterranean.

Save the Children UK hopes to raise the money to support a lifeboat which will operate in the waters around Italy for the next 15 months.

The boat will rescue children and families from the water, give them emergency medical treatment, food and clothes, and then bring them safely to port.

At that point, Save the Children teams will ensure the most vulnerable children receive specialist support.

The Mediterranean cannot continue to be a mass unmarked grave for children

The charity said new research shows the number of children attempting to cross the Mediterranean has grown by two-thirds in the past year, with 90% making the trip alone.

More than 3000 people have already died this year trying to reach Europe.

Now donations are being sought so the lifesaving vessel can be launched in early September.

Dan Stewart, Save the Children communications project manager, said: “Whatever children are fleeing from, they have the right to be safe. And we have an obligation to protect them, whether they’re here in Europe already, or during their dangerous and deadly journey.

“While the root causes of this crisis are complex, our response is simple: stop children drowning.

“When disaster strikes, we’ve always done whatever it takes to reach every last child that needs us. We’re already there for child refugees all along the routes they take into Europe. We’re in countries torn apart by violence like Nigeria and Syria; in transit countries like Greece and Italy; and in destination countries like Germany and the UK.

“Now, with your help, we’ll be there for them at the most perilous point of their journey. Because the Mediterranean cannot continue to be a mass unmarked grave for children.”

Donations can be made on the Save the Children website.