U.N. warns smugglers forcing migrant kids into sex
BERKASOVO, Serbia -- The U.N. refugee agency reports a growing number of cases in which migrant and refugee children in southeastern Europe have been forced into sex to pay for the continuation of their journeys as they flee war and poverty.
UNHCR spokeswoman Melissa Fleming says the agency is still assessing how many children might be affected but is going public with concerns to pressure governments along the route to do more to help children.
Speaking to reporters Friday, Fleming said extortion of children appears to be happening "in every single country" along the route. UNHCR estimates that about a third of the more than half a million people who have crossed the Mediterranean to reach Europe this year have been women and children.
Fleming said it appears that smugglers, criminal gangs and other refugees could potentially be behind the abuse. The agency says unaccompanied children are particularly vulnerable.
The International Office for Migration said Friday that over the last week Greece experienced the largest single weekly influx of migrants of the year, at an average of some 9,600 per day.
The Geneva-based intergovernmental body said some 48,000 people crossed from Turkey to Greek islands "despite deteriorating weather conditions" from Oct. 17-21.
In September, sea crossings mostly varied between 4,000 and 6,000 per day.
The agency reported that a total of 18 people died in two instances during the past week, including 14 off the Greek island of Samos.
Overall, IOM estimates 680,928 people have crossed the Mediterranean this year, and 3,175 have died trying.