The United Nations has shown this Tuesday its "deep dismay" at the death or disappearance of nearly 145 people after the sinking, last week, of several boats off the coast of Mauritania while trying to reach European territory in the Canary Islands.
The spokesperson for the UN Refugee Agency (UNHCR), Matthew Saltmarsh, has pointed out in a statement that among the victims were refugees and migrants, emphasizing that these tragedies on an "extremely dangerous" journey again highlight "the high human cost of these routes."
He specified that between June 14 and June 18, three rescue and disembarkation operations were carried out in the coastal city of Nouadhibou, in Mauritania, in which 387 people were assisted. Their teams were present "to assist the surviving individuals and identify those who may need international protection."
Saltmarsh indicated that "one of the most tragic incidents" occurred with a boat rescued on July 18, about which there is information suggesting that 143 people died or are still missing, while only 38 managed to survive after drifting for nearly 25 days since their departure from Gambia heading to the Canary Islands.
"Among the surviving individuals are two minors who lost all their family members during the journey and who are recovering in the hospital along with other rescued individuals," highlighted the UNHCR spokesperson, who added that the death of another person traveling in another boat whose occupants arrived at port on July 14 has also been confirmed.
In this regard, he insisted that "these events starkly remind us that, despite the sustained efforts of coastal authorities and humanitarian organizations to save lives, the Atlantic route between West Africa and the Canary Islands remains one of the deadliest in the world."
"The long distances, the unpredictable conditions of the ocean, the precarious and overloaded boats, and the difficulty in accessing timely rescues continue to make this one of the deadliest routes," affirmed Saltmarsh, who noted, however, a 61% decrease in arrivals to the Canary Islands compared to 2025, as of July 15.
"These incidents highlight the persistent risks faced by refugees and migrants trying to reach Europe, many of whom embark on the journey from points located more than 2,000 kilometers from their destination," he emphasized.
The spokesperson detailed that the main maritime routes to Europe have recorded more than 40,000 arrivals so far in 2026, compared to the 65,407 registered during the first half of 2025, while warning that "deaths and disappearances at sea continue to occur at alarming levels."
"Many of these incidents happen far from public attention and, in some cases, end with entire boats disappearing without a trace," he explained, stressing the need to "redouble efforts to address the root causes that push refugees and migrants to undertake these dangerous journeys."
"At the same time, it is essential to facilitate greater and faster access to legal pathways, through an increase in resettlement places, more labor mobility opportunities, and access to education as alternatives to dangerous maritime crossings," he concluded.
In parallel, the authorities of Mauritania, one of the main departure points of the Atlantic route, have reported in recent weeks the interception of several boats with hundreds of people on board, in a context of increased crossings in recent years, with the Canary Islands as a priority destination.
The International Organization for Migration (IOM) states on its website that around 6,600 people have died or have been reported missing since 2014 on this route, a figure only surpassed by the data from the Sahara Desert, where more than 7,100 deaths and disappearances have been documented.