ROME - Over 6,135 unaccompanied migrant children have been reported missing in Italy as of December 31 last year, Italian Justice Minister Andrea Orlando said Wednesday.



One of the main issues to be tackled to protect underage migrants, Orlando told parliament's Schengen commission, concerns the assignment of a tutor, a procedure which is today too long and complicated.



The justice minister called for the approval of a bill aimed at addressing the problem, currently in the Lower House.



Orlando added an investigation is underway on the role played by ISIS in managing migrant flows towards Italy.



''According to the information available, there is an ongoing sweeping probe on the hypothesis that ISIS backers have crucial roles in controlling and managing migration flows towards Italy, also giving directives on the criteria of territorial distribution of migrants'', the minister told the Schengen commission.



Information on the ongoing investigation is classified, preventing right now to provide further information, he added.