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Rabat – The bodies of 89 migrants have been found dead in the Atlantic by Mauritanian officials this week with dozens more still missing.
The migrants were bound for Europe setting out from the border of Senegal and Gambia when their ship capsized due to strong winds and currents in the Atlantic Ocean, according to a report from The Guardian
The traditional fishing boat was found four kilometers off the coast of the South-Western city of Ndiago. The ship was estimated to be carrying 170 migrants, leaving 72 migrants still missing from the accounted bodies. The Mauritanian coast guard managed to rescue nine survivors from the wreck, including a five-year-old girl.
Migrants trying to make it to Spain are often not equipped for the perilous journey across the Atlantic. Many of these small wooden boats transporting migrants are not meant for travel in such conditions and are severely overloaded, with a lack of supplies.
The Atlantic route is being increasingly attempted, although significantly more dangerous, as vigilance in intercepting migrant boats has increased in the Mediterranean. The land route for migration through the Sahara is considered exceedingly treacherous than the journey at sea, accounting for double the amount of migrant deaths.
Over the first five months of 2024, over 5,000 migrants from African nations en route to Spain were found dead. This equates to 33 deaths per day, most occurring on the Atlantic route. In the past year, the number of migrants has doubled with nearly 40,000 migrants arriving on Spanish territories.
The European Union has promised Mauritania €210 million to curb migration to Europe. Since 2016, political conflicts and instability have driven a sharp increase in the numbers of migrants from North African Nations and the Middle East toward Europe, as migrants attempt to flee extreme poverty and in disregard to the jeopardous journey.
