A devastating incident involving migrants attempting to reach Spain from West Africa has reportedly claimed the lives of up to 50 people, including 44 Pakistanis, according to the migrant rights organization Walking Borders.
The boat, carrying 86 migrants, departed Mauritania on January 2. On Wednesday, Moroccan authorities rescued 36 survivors. Among the passengers were 66 Pakistanis, with the rest comprising migrants from other countries. The tragic journey highlights the perilous Atlantic migration route to Spain’s Canary Islands.
Walking Borders, based in Spain, reported that the boat had been missing for several days before the alarm was raised. The organization had alerted authorities across the region about its disappearance six days prior. Alarm Phone, another NGO assisting migrants at sea, also contacted Spain’s maritime rescue service on January 12 but received no updates on the boat’s location.
This tragedy comes amid record migrant fatalities in 2024, with Walking Borders documenting over 10,000 deaths—about 30 per day—mostly on the Atlantic route from countries like Mauritania and Senegal. The Canary Islands remain a key yet deadly destination for these migrants.
Helena Maleno, head of Walking Borders, confirmed via social media that 44 of the victims were Pakistanis. She described their 13-day journey as one of immense suffering and neglect, with no rescue intervention.
The incident has ignited calls for urgent action from officials and humanitarian groups. Fernando Clavijo, the regional president of the Canary Islands, expressed profound grief and urged Spain and Europe to address the ongoing crisis. “The Atlantic cannot continue to be Africa’s graveyard,” he stated, emphasizing the need for international cooperation to prevent further tragedies.
