The Mauritanian coastguard “saved the lives of 103 illegal immigrants and recovered 25 bodies, following the sinking of their boat off the coast of the capital Nouakchott,” AMI reported, citing a coastguard commander. “Among the survivors, 10 people were urgently referred to hospitals for medical care, and four unaccompanied and separated children were identified,” the agency added in a statement. For the past two months, more than 76 boats with more than 6,000 surviving migrants have disembarked in Mauritania, but at least 190 people have died or are missing, the IOM statement added. Close to 5,000 people are estimated to have died at sea between January and May of 2024 trying to reach the Spanish archipelago, migration rights group Walking Borders said last month. 160% more migrants arrived in the Canaries, using the Atlantic route, between January and July 2024 compared to the same period last year, according to the IOM data.

Source: The North Africa Journal July 26, 2024 08:54 UTC