A tragic incident occurred earlier this week off the coast of Mauritania, where a migrant boat carrying nearly 170 people capsized, resulting in the deaths of almost 90 individuals. The Mauritanian coast guard recovered 89 bodies from the large traditional fishing boat that overturned on Monday, July 1, just four kilometers from the country’s southwest city of Ndiago. The coastguard managed to rescue nine people, including a five-year-old girl.
Survivors reported that the boat had departed from the border of Senegal and Gambia with 170 passengers on board, leaving 72 people unaccounted for. The Atlantic route is known for its treacherous conditions, characterized by strong currents. Migrants often embark on this perilous journey in overcrowded, unseaworthy vessels with insufficient drinking water. The route has gained popularity due to increased vigilance in the Mediterranean.
In 2023, the number of migrants landing at Spain’s Canary Islands more than doubled compared to the previous year, reaching a record of 39,910 according to Spanish government data. Located just 100 kilometers away from the coast of North Africa, the Canary Islands are a common destination for migrants. However, many embark on their journey from much further away, setting sail from countries like Morocco, Western Sahara, Mauritania, Gambia, and Senegal, often in long wooden vessels known as pirogues.
The humanitarian crisis surrounding migration is tragically evident in the high number of deaths at sea. According to Caminando Fronteras, a Spanish charity, over 5,000 migrants perished while attempting to reach Spain by sea in the first five months of 2023, translating to an average of 33 deaths daily. This figure represents the highest daily death toll since the charity began collecting data in 2007, with the majority of these deaths occurring on the Atlantic route.
