These were Loujin’s last words, dying of dehydration moments later, having spent days at sea in a leaking fishing boat. The vessel sent multiple distress signals from within Malta’s search and rescue zone, close to Crete, with both countries delaying rescue efforts and the calls remaining unanswered.2 This tragedy illustrates that the safe passage of children on the move across the Mediterranean Sea remains of grave concern. Indeed, the EU has been active in implementing measures to address the migrant situation in the Central Mediterranean route, including engaging in talks with the African Union, the United Nations, and Libya, where the frequent transit of irregular migrants has led to the development of smuggling and trafficking networks.3 The EU’s interventions in the region have focused on training Libyan coast guards, protecting and assisting migrants and refugees, supporting local communities, and improving border management. Similar strategies have been implemented for migrants arriving from the Eastern Mediterranean and Western routes.4

However, Loujin’s story demonstrates that we are not doing enough to protect migrant children. While it remains unclear what caused the delays to respond to the distress call from the sinking vessel, the YEAP deems these delays both unnecessary and unsafe in the context of potentially unwell children seeking help in EU waters. No child should die of thirst in Europe: we can and should do better. Furthermore, European policymakers must be responsive to changing patterns of conflict and routes of human trafficking, with an increasing number of irregular migrants arriving from Algeria in recent years.3 There is an additional concern of political groups with overtly anti-migrant policies coming to power: whatever national policies such governments implement, it is essential that the EU and European region as a whole prioritises the health and safety of children on the move, and encourages all national policymakers to do so too.5

The YEAP advocates for receptive politics that prioritise life-saving rescue interventions rather than delays whenever there is any doubt as to whether children are on board in-coming vessels, and whether they may be unwell. We also advocate for adequate and ongoing resource allocation to ensure migrants are not excluded from basic healthcare, including adequate social support and access to cultural mediators and interpreters, regardless of individual national policies on accepting irregular migrants.