144 Migrants Dead or Missing off Mauritania: UNHCR

Fishing boats anchor off the coast of Mauritania.

The UN refugee agency (UNHCR) said 144 migrants attempting to reach Europe are dead or missing following a series of tragic maritime incidents off the coast of Mauritania last week.

Many of the migrants, including refugees, spent 25 days stranded aboard a boat that departed from The Gambia and was headed for Spain's Canary Islands, underscoring the dangers of the Atlantic migration route.

Between 14 and 18 July, UNHCR, national authorities and humanitarian partners assisted in three disembarkation operations that brought 387 people safely ashore.

Rescue efforts culminated on 18 July, when teams rescued 38 survivors while 143 others were confirmed dead or remain missing.

Among the survivors were two children who lost their entire families at sea.

Dangerous Atlantic Route

According to UNHCR, the Atlantic route between the West African mainland and Spain's Canary Islands is one of the world's deadliest migration corridors because of its long distances, unpredictable ocean conditions, overcrowded and unseaworthy boats, and limited access to timely rescue operations.

"The incidents highlight the persistent risks faced by refugees and migrants attempting to reach Europe, many of whom are embarking from locations more than 2,000 kilometres away from their intended destination," the agency said in a press release issued on Tuesday.

Arrivals in the Canary Islands fell by 61 per cent during the first half of this year compared with the same period in 2025, with about 4,400 arrivals recorded by 15 July.

Similarly, sea arrivals in Europe along the main migration routes declined from 65,407 during the same period last year to just over 40,000 this year.

Despite the decline in arrivals, UNHCR warned that deaths and disappearances at sea remain alarmingly high, with many boats carrying refugees and migrants disappearing without trace.

Call for Action

UNHCR said the latest tragedy off the Mauritanian coast highlights the urgent need to address the root causes forcing refugees and migrants to flee their home countries.

The agency urged governments to expand safe and legal migration pathways by increasing refugee resettlement quotas, creating more labour mobility opportunities and broadening access to education as alternatives to dangerous sea crossings.

Meanwhile, UNHCR continues to support rescue operations in Mauritania and other countries along the route.

So far this year, 17 boats carrying migrants have arrived in the Mauritanian cities of Nouadhibou and Nouakchott, with a total of 2,147 people rescued.