The United Nations agency says that 144 dead and missing off Mauritania are trying to reach Europe
At least 144 migrants and refugees have died or gone missing off the coast of Mauritania after attempting to make the perilous sea journey to Europe, Reuters reported, citing the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees, on Tuesday.The deaths are linked to three rescue operations carried out off the coast of Mauritania between 14 and 18 July. The Commission said that 387 people survived rescue operations, while one of the accidents turned into one of the bloodiest accidents recorded on the road this year. According to the agency, a boat that set off from Buffalo, Gambia, on July 18, was rescued after drifting at sea for 25 days. Of those on board, 143 people had died by the time the ship reached Mauritania.
Rescue teams recovered the bodies and assisted 38 survivors when the boat reached Nouadhibou, where UNHCR provided humanitarian support.“Among the survivors of that ship are two children who lost all their family members during the voyage and are recovering in hospital,” UNHCR spokesman Matt Saltmarsh said at a UN press conference in Geneva.The UNHCR also reported that another migrant was declared dead on arrival after a separate ship arrived in Mauritania on July 14.
The agency said Mauritania has recorded 17 migrant disembarkations so far in 2026 in Nouadhibou and Nouakchott, with a total of 2,147 people rescued. While crossings into Europe have fallen sharply this year, risks remain severe. UN figures show that just over 40,000 migrants and refugees will reach Europe by sea in 2026, compared to 65,407 during the same period last year. However, UNHCR has warned that the number of people dying or disappearing on these roads remains at “worrying levels”.
