Nearly 90 migrants headed for Europe have died, and many others are missing after their boat overturned off the coast of Mauritania earlier this week, according to the state news agency and a local official on Thursday.
“The Mauritanian coast guard recovered the bodies of 89 individuals from a large traditional fishing boat that capsized on Monday, July 1, about four kilometers (2.5 miles) from the southwestern city of Ndiago,” reported the state news agency.
Survivors told the agency that the boat had departed from the border of Senegal and Gambia with 170 passengers, resulting in 72 missing individuals at Mauritania.
A senior local government official provided similar information to AFP, requesting anonymity. The coastguard rescued nine people, including a five-year-old girl, as reported by the state news agency.
The Atlantic route is particularly perilous due to strong currents, with migrants traveling in overloaded and often unseaworthy boats lacking sufficient drinking water. Despite these dangers, the route has gained popularity due to increased vigilance in the Mediterranean.
The Canary Islands, located 100 km off the coast of North Africa, often see boats departing from much further away, including Morocco, Western Sahara, Mauritania, Gambia, and Senegal.
In the first five months of this year, over 5,000 migrants died attempting to reach Spain by sea, averaging 33 deaths per day, according to the Spanish charity Caminando Fronteras. This marks the highest daily death toll since the organization began tracking figures in 2007, with most deaths occurring on the Atlantic route.
The surge in migrant deaths highlights the extreme dangers of these journeys. The conditions aboard these boats are often dire, with overcrowding and insufficient supplies making the voyages perilous. Despite these risks, many migrants continue to take the Atlantic route, driven by desperate circumstances and the hope of a better life in Europe.
International organizations and charities have called for urgent action to address the crisis, emphasizing the need for safer migration pathways and better protection for those fleeing poverty, conflict, and persecution. The high death toll also underscores the broader challenges facing Europe and North Africa as they grapple with migration pressures and the humanitarian implications.
Efforts to curb migration through stricter border controls and surveillance have often resulted in migrants seeking more dangerous routes, as evidenced by the increase in Atlantic crossings. The situation calls for a comprehensive approach that addresses the root causes of migration, including economic disparities and political instability in migrants’ home countries.
As the world continues to witness these tragic incidents, the stories of those lost at sea serve as a stark reminder of the human cost of migration and the urgent need for international cooperation and compassionate policies to ensure the safety and dignity of all migrants.
