144 Refugees and Migrants Dead or Missing Off Mauritania Coast

At least 144 refugees and migrants have been reported dead or missing after a series of maritime incidents off the coast of Mauritania, in the latest tragedy on the increasingly dangerous Atlantic migration route from West Africa to Europe's Atlantic islands.

The UN refugee agency (UNHCR) said three rescue operations were carried out from the Mauritanian port city of Nouadhibou between 14 and 18 July, bringing 387 people of various nationalities safely ashore.

The deadliest incident involved a boat that left Bufuloto in The Gambia bound for Spain's Canary Islands, 905 nautical miles (1,677 kilometres) away. The vessel was rescued on Saturday after drifting at sea for nearly 25 days, but only 38 people survived. UNHCR said 143 others aboard were reported dead or missing.

In a statement, the agency said, "Among the survivors were two children, who had lost all their family members during the journey and are now recovering in hospital with other survivors."

A further death was recorded among people rescued from another vessel on 14 July.

"The refugees and migrants were reported dead or missing after attempting the perilous sea journey from West Africa towards Europe, highlighting the continued human cost of these dangerous routes," UNHCR spokesperson Matthew Saltmarsh told reporters in Geneva.

UNHCR said the Atlantic route to Spain's Canary Islands remains one of the world's deadliest migration corridors because of the vast distances involved, unpredictable weather, overcrowded and unseaworthy boats, and limited opportunities for timely rescue. The agency renewed calls for stronger international cooperation to save lives and expand safe migration pathways.

So far this year, UNHCR has recorded 17 rescue and disembarkation operations in Nouadhibou and Nouakchott, with 2,147 refugees and migrants brought safely ashore.