144 migrants dead or missing off Mauritania, UN says

The United Nations refugee agency said Tuesday that 144 refugees and migrants have been reported dead or missing following a series of maritime disasters off the coast of Mauritania, underscoring the continued toll of the Atlantic migration route from West Africa to Europe.

25 Days Adrift

UNHCR said three rescue operations were conducted from the Mauritanian port city of Nouadhibou between July 14 and 18, bringing 387 people of various nationalities safely ashore. The deadliest incident involved a boat that departed from Bufuloto in The Gambia, bound for Spain's Canary Islands some 905 nautical miles away. The vessel was rescued on July 18 after drifting at sea for nearly 25 days, but only 38 people survived. UNHCR reported that 143 others aboard were dead or missing. A further death was recorded among those rescued from another vessel on July 14.euronews+2

"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," UNHCR said in a statement.euronews

A Deadly Corridor

UNHCR spokesperson Matthew Saltmarsh told reporters in Geneva that the deaths highlight "the continued human cost of these dangerous routes". The agency described the Atlantic route to Spain's Canary Islands as one of the world's deadliest migration corridors, citing vast distances, unpredictable weather, overcrowded and unseaworthy boats, and limited opportunities for timely rescue.reuters+1

So far in 2026, UNHCR has recorded 17 rescue and disembarkation operations in Nouadhibou and Nouakchott, with 2,147 refugees and migrants brought safely ashore. The agency renewed calls for stronger international cooperation to save lives, expand safe migration pathways, and provide greater access to education and employment as alternatives to dangerous sea crossings.euronews+2

Recurring Tragedies

The disaster is the latest in a pattern of deadly incidents along the route. In August 2025, at least 49 migrants died when a boat from The Gambia capsized near the Mauritanian coast. The route saw multiple tragedies in 2024 as well, with the International Organization for Migration recording hundreds of deaths in Mauritanian waters over the course of that year. Despite the risks, migrants continue to attempt the crossing, driven by conflict, poverty, and a lack of legal pathways to reach Europe.thenewhumanitarian+2