MSF "deeply shocked" by fatal migrant crossing on the Atlantic route in Mauritania
via SeneNews6 min read
Médecins Sans Frontières MSF has expressed profound shock following a deadly incident on the Atlantic migratory route, where at least 144 people died or are missing. This event, involving a boat from Gambia rescued on July 18 after drifting for nearly 25 days, marks one of the deadliest incidents observed this year in Mauritania. The UN High Commissioner for Refugees UNHCR reported that only 38 out of 190 people who embarked on the pirogue survived. Mauritanian coast guard reports 37 survivors. MSF, which provided assistance to survivors in Nouadhibou, noted that those who reached shore suffered from post-traumatic shock and psychosis, bone fractures, traumatic injuries, and hypothermia. Survivors recounted terrifying conditions at sea and the loss of loved ones. Fouzia Bara, MSF migration program manager, highlighted a survivor's account of witnessing her sister's death. Since the beginning of 2026, 17 landing operations in Nouadhibou and Nouakchott have rescued 2,147 people. Thousands of West Africans, primarily young people, have attempted irregular migration via the perilous Atlantic route to reach Europe, mainly the Canary Islands, using overcrowded and often dilapidated boats.
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This summary was AI-generated from a story originally published by SeneNews.
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