Rabat – Units from the Moroccan Royal Navy, alongside coastal surveillance teams, have rescued a total of 190 migrants, including 11 women, attempting to take the journey to the Canary Canary Islands from the country’s southern shores.
The individuals, all of whom were Sub-Saharan nationals, were attempting to cross Moroccan waters on makeshift boats.
Authorities intercepted the boats in the southern territorial waters of the country, situated between the cities of Tan-Tan and Dakhla.
The individuals were provided with the necessary medical care before being transported to the nearest national ports. They were then handed over to the Royal Gendarmerie to undergo the requisite administrative procedures.
The Canary Islands, which are geographically closer to Africa than Europe, have increasingly become a focal point for migrants attempting to reach European shores.
However, this migration route has gained notoriety due to its inherent risks and the desperate conditions that migrants often face while traversing it.
The dangerous journey across the Atlantic Ocean to these islands has proven deadly for thousands of migrants, most of whom use makeshift boats, which are often overcrowded and lack sufficient supplies and safety measures.
In May and June alone, Moroccan authorities rescued a total of 2,000 migrants trying to head to the Canary Islands on boats, according to the Spanish Ministry of Interior.
Data from the ministry indicated that, from January 1 to June 30 this year, more than 12,000 migrants arrived in Spain by sea, over 29% of whom did so through the Atlantic route.
