UNHCR: 144 dead or missing in migrant crossing off Mauritania

On 21 July, the UN Refugee Agency said it was “deeply saddened” after 144 refugees and migrants were reported dead or missing following “tragic maritime incidents” off the Mauritanian coast on the 14-18 of July.

According to the UNHCR official reports, of the 144 people reported dead or missing, 143 were passengers on a single boat rescued on July 18. After being stranded for nearly 25 days, the boat, which was travelling from Bufaloto in Gambia to Spain, received emergency assistance. Only 38 of those on board were rescued safely.

According to Al Jazeera, a Qatari-friendly outlet, Mauritania remains a key departure point on the Atlantic route, with tens of thousands attempting to reach Spain’s Canary Islands each year.

The disaster was particularly devastating, as two children among the rescued had lost their family members during the journey. They are currently in hospital recovering with other survivors, as confirmed by the UNHCR statement.

It was also reported that another death occurred on a ship that disembarked people on 14 July.

Between 14 and 18 July, three disembarkation operations took place in Nouadhibou, Mauritania, rescuing a total of 387 individuals of different nationalities, according to the UNHCR.

Speaking to reporters in Geneva, UNHCR spokesman Matthew Saltmarsh stated: “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.”

He added that “the Atlantic route from West Africa towards the Canary Islands remains one of the world’s deadliest mixed movement corridors due to long distances, unpredictable ocean conditions, unseaworthy, overcrowded boats and limited access to timely rescue.”

In 2026 so far, UNHCR documented 17 disembarkations in Nouadhibou and Nouakchott, with 2,147 rescued.

The UN agency reported a 61% decrease in arrivals to the Spanish archipelago from 2025, totalling 4,400 arrivals by July 15.

Despite the decrease in numbers, the recent boat incidents underscore the ongoing dangers faced by refugees and migrants as they attempt to reach Europe, with many starting their journey more than 2,000 km from their final destination.

Overall, more than 40,000 arrivals by sea on major routes to Europe have been recorded this year, compared to 65,407 in the first half of 2025. Nevertheless, UNHCR and its partners have consistently emphasised that deaths and disappearances at sea continue to be at “alarming levels,” with many incidents happening far from public view and often leading to the complete loss of boats.

The UNHCR recommends in its official report that concerted efforts must be made to provide “meaningful and quicker access to legal pathways through higher resettlement quotas, increased labour opportunities and education pathways as alternatives to the dangerous sea crossings.”

Al Jazeera/UNHCR/Maghrebi.org