Over 4,000 Children Die on Migration Routes Since 2014, Save the Children Reports

At least 4,000 children have died on migration routes since 2014, with nearly half drowning, according to Save the Children.

The child rights organization analyzed data from the International Organization for Migration (IOM), revealing that at least 4,044 children lost their lives over the past decade while fleeing conflict, hunger, or climate-related disasters. The true toll is likely much higher due to limited data on migrant children.

The deadliest routes include the Mediterranean Sea, the Sahara Desert, the Afghanistan-to-Iran corridor, and the U.S.-Mexico border. Drowning accounted for nearly half of all recorded deaths, while vehicle crashes and unsafe transport conditions were cited in at least one in every seven cases.

“Migration routes are increasingly becoming graveyards for children,” said Daniela Reale, Save the Children’s lead for migration policy and advocacy. She emphasized that the actual number of child deaths is likely significantly higher, as the figures only represent children who were found, identified, and documented.

The report comes amid global cuts to foreign aid budgets, with at least 40 countries across Africa, Asia, Latin America, Europe, and the Middle East impacted by sudden reductions in the past year. These cuts threaten essential services, including health, nutrition, education, and protection programs that help prevent forced displacement and unsafe migration.

Save the Children warned that without access to these basic services, more children and their families may feel compelled to embark on life-threatening journeys, often with tragic consequences. The organization is urging world leaders and international donors to increase financial commitments to support vulnerable children and prioritize long-term investment in child protection, particularly in areas prone to conflict, economic instability, or climate shocks.

The group also called for stronger data collection on migrant children, including information on their health, education, protection, and causes of death, to improve humanitarian response and policy interventions. Save the Children emphasized the need for innovation, regional coordination, and data-driven approaches in this era of constrained funding.