International

UN refugee agency reports 144 migrants dead or missing off Mauritanian coast

Sandra Taylor - qinilo.com July 22, 2026

Foto : Sandra Taylor - qinilo.com

Tragedy at Sea: 144 Migrants Lost Off Mauritania’s Shores

Qinilo.com – The United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees has confirmed that 144 individuals attempting to cross to Europe have either perished or gone missing following multiple maritime disasters near Mauritania during the previous week.

Many of those aboard were refugees who endured a grueling 25-day ordeal on a vessel departing from The Gambia, bound for Spain’s Canary Islands. This harrowing journey underscores the perilous conditions characterizing this particular maritime passage.

Rescue Operations and Survivor Accounts

From July 14 through July 18, UNHCR representatives worked alongside national officials and humanitarian organizations during three separate landings that successfully brought 387 people to safety.

The most significant rescue operation occurred on July 18, when search teams recovered 38 living survivors while 143 others remained unaccounted for or were found deceased.

Among those rescued on that final day were two young children who had lost every member of their family during the crossing.

A Dangerous Atlantic Corridor

According to UNHCR, the Atlantic passage connecting West Africa’s mainland with the Canary Islands ranks among the most lethal maritime routes globally. The dangers stem from extensive distances, volatile weather patterns, overcrowded vessels lacking seaworthiness, and insufficient access to prompt rescue services.

“The incidents highlight the persistent risks faced by refugees and migrants attempting to reach Europe, many of whom are embarking over 2,000 km away from their intended destination,” the agency stated in a Tuesday press release.

Statistical Context and Future Recommendations

Arrival figures to the Canary Islands have decreased by 61 percent this year relative to the opening months of 2025, recording 4,400 arrivals through July 15. Comparable reductions appear across Europe’s primary sea routes, where arrivals fell from 65,407 during the previous year to exceeding 40,000 in the current period.

Despite these declining numbers, UNHCR emphasized that maritime fatalities and disappearances persist at concerning rates, frequently receiving minimal media coverage. Numerous vessels transporting refugees continue to vanish without trace.

The agency characterized the Mauritanian tragedy as evidence requiring action on fundamental factors driving displacement from home nations.

UNHCR called upon nations to evaluate “meaningful and quicker access to legal pathways through higher resettlement quotas, increased labour opportunities and education pathways as alternatives to the dangerous sea crossings.”

Rescue operations in Mauritania and surrounding regions remain ongoing. This year alone, 17 migrant-carrying vessels have reached the Mauritanian ports of Nouadhibou and Nouakchott, saving a combined total of 2,147 people.

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