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144 dead or missing off Mauritania after perilous sea journey to Europe, UN agency reports
🇮🇳 India /Disasters & Emergencies

144 dead or missing off Mauritania after perilous sea journey to Europe, UN agency reports

From Times of India · () English

Translated from English, summarized and contextualized by DistantNews.

At a glance

News Named sources Outcome reported
  • At least 144 migrants and refugees are dead or missing off Mauritania's coast after attempting to reach Europe.
  • The incidents are linked to three rescue operations between July 14 and July 18, with one boat carrying 143 deceased upon arrival.
  • Despite a sharp drop in crossings this year, the UN warns that the number of deaths on migration routes remains alarmingly high.

A perilous sea journey to Europe has resulted in at least 144 migrants and refugees being reported dead or missing off the coast of Mauritania. The United Nations refugee agency (UNHCR) cited Reuters in reporting the grim figures, which stem from three rescue operations conducted between July 14 and July 18.

One of the most tragic incidents involved a boat that departed from Gambia and was rescued on July 18 after drifting for 25 days. Upon its arrival in Mauritania, rescue teams recovered the bodies of 143 people, with only 38 survivors. Among those rescued were two children who had lost their entire families during the voyage and are now recovering in hospital.

Among the survivors of all that ship were two children who have lost all their family members during the journey and they are recovering in hospital

— Matt SaltmarshUNHCR spokesperson, describing the plight of child survivors.

Another migrant was declared dead on arrival after a separate vessel reached Mauritania on July 14. The UNHCR has provided humanitarian support to the survivors. While overall sea crossings to Europe have decreased significantly in 2026 compared to the previous year, the risks associated with these journeys remain severe. The agency cautioned that the number of people dying or disappearing on these routes continues to be at "alarming levels."

alarming levels

— UNHCRWarning about the continued high death toll on migration routes.
DistantNews Editorial

Originally published by Times of India in English. Translated, summarized, and contextualized by our editorial team with added local perspective. Read our editorial standards.

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