UN Reports 144 Migrants Dead Or Missing

The United Nations has reported that 144 migrants were dead or missing following a series of maritime incidents off the coast of Mauritania last week, highlighting the continued dangers faced by people attempting to reach Europe through the Atlantic migration route.

According to the UN refugee agency (UNHCR), three rescue operations conducted between July 14 and 18 brought 387 migrants of different nationalities safely ashore in the Mauritanian port city of Nouadhibou. The agency said the operations were part of ongoing efforts to respond to distress calls involving overcrowded boats travelling towards Spain’s Canary Islands.

The deadliest incident involved a vessel that departed Bufalo in The Gambia and drifted at sea for nearly 25 days before it was located. Only 38 people survived the journey, while 143 passengers were reported dead or missing, including the relatives of two children who survived the ordeal. A separate rescue operation recorded one additional death, bringing the total number of reported deaths or missing persons to 144.

UNHCR said the Atlantic route to the Canary Islands remains one of the world’s deadliest migration corridors because of overcrowded vessels, harsh weather conditions, long distances at sea and limited access to timely search and rescue operations. The agency added that 2,147 migrants have been rescued in Mauritania through 17 disembarkation operations since the beginning of 2026. The circumstances surrounding many of the missing migrants remain unknown, and search efforts continue in affected areas.

SOURCE: AFP