The United Nations refugee agency expressed profound sorrow Tuesday following two distinct maritime disasters off the coast of Mauritania last week that left well over 100 migrants dead or missing.
According to the UNHCR, a combined total of 144 people perished or vanished in the separate incidents occurring between July 14 and 18, while 387 others were rescued.
Mauritania’s coast guard detailed the first tragedy, stating 122 people went missing near the capital, Nouakchott. A vessel carrying 160 passengers from Gambia bound for the Canary Islands reportedly ran out of fuel and drifted for 25 days.
In the second incident, authorities rescued 179 individuals who had departed from Senegal on Saturday. The discrepancy between the coast guard’s specific tallies and the UN’s aggregate figure was not immediately reconciled.
Mauritanian waters have emerged as a primary corridor for migrants from sub-Saharan Africa attempting to reach Europe amid scarce economic prospects at home. The UN agency underscored that the Atlantic route to the Canary Islands ranks among the world’s deadliest, characterized by vast distances, severe overcrowding, and unseaworthy vessels.
