Europol said the names of some suspected migrant smugglers are also appearing in the agency's human trafficking database -- indicating some of those missing might be vulnerable to exploitation.
"Not all of them will be criminally exploited. Some might have been passed onto family members, for example," Op Gen Oorth said. "Europol's concern is that we do not know where they are or what they're doing or who they are with. This is a worrying underlying issue in relation to the migrant crisis."
Leonard Doyle, spokesman for the International Organization for Migration, said the estimated figure appalled him.
"We think it's shocking that we are now learning that there are so many unaccompanied minors exposed to trafficking and other dangers," Doyle said.
"That is another tragic twist in the latest story of migration to Europe and the need to protect vulnerable young people who find themselves at loose without friends in Europe and therefore vulnerable without proper mentoring and leadership."
http://www.cnn.com/2016/02/01/world/europe-missing-migrant-children/
"Not all of them will be criminally exploited. Some might have been passed onto family members, for example," Op Gen Oorth said. "Europol's concern is that we do not know where they are or what they're doing or who they are with. This is a worrying underlying issue in relation to the migrant crisis."
Leonard Doyle, spokesman for the International Organization for Migration, said the estimated figure appalled him.
"We think it's shocking that we are now learning that there are so many unaccompanied minors exposed to trafficking and other dangers," Doyle said.
"That is another tragic twist in the latest story of migration to Europe and the need to protect vulnerable young people who find themselves at loose without friends in Europe and therefore vulnerable without proper mentoring and leadership."
http://www.cnn.com/2016/02/01/world/europe-missing-migrant-children/
