Ship arrives with fewer children than originally reported

A ship that had been suspected of carrying child labourers docked in the port of Cotonou early on Tuesday, with far fewer people on board than expected.

UNICEF Programme Coordinator Nicolas Pron told IRIN 139 people were found on the ‘Etinero’, including about 20 children. Some of the children were not in “great shape, visibly sick,” Pron said. He added that passengers had been taken to shelters and had started receiving medical care and food.

Attention had been focused on the ship since late last week after it was reported that it was carrying up to 250 child labourers and had been refused permission to dock at ports in Cameroon and Gabon. Its return to Cotonou, from where it sailed about two weeks ago, has not ended the uncertainty and speculation surrounding the incident. The BBC reported Benin’s Social Protection Minister as saying that “the Etinero had been confused with a second ship, whose name and current location were unknown”.

Pron said the children were accompanied by relatives. “We are a bit confused by their presence,” he added. “We cannot say that it is a case of child trafficking.” UNICEF, NGOs and government officials will all be involved in clarifying the incident and taking the required measures, he said.