At least #69Migrants lost their lives after a boat en route from #WestAfrica to the #CanaryIslands capsized off #Morocco on December 19. Malian authorities confirmed the disaster, marking another grim chapter in the perilous journey many undertake to reach #Spain.
The boat, carrying around 80 people, sank in the #AtlanticOcean. Only 11 survivors were rescued, according to Mali’s Ministry of Malians Abroad, which has established a crisis unit to monitor the situation.
The Atlantic migration route from #Africa to the Canary Islands has become increasingly treacherous. In 2024, this route witnessed an alarming surge in fatalities. Over 41,425 migrants arrived in the Canaries between January and November, surpassing last year’s record of 39,910 arrivals.
Years of conflict in the #SahelRegion, including #Mali, combined with unemployment and the devastating impact of #ClimateChange on farming communities, are driving people to attempt this dangerous crossing.
According to the #RedCross, one person died among 300 migrants who reached the Canary Island of #ElHierro on six boats on December 22. Tragically, the Atlantic route has been labeled the world’s deadliest by the migrant aid group #WalkingBorders.
In its annual report, Walking Borders revealed that a staggering 9,757 migrants perished at sea in 2024 while trying to reach the Canary Islands from Africa’s Atlantic coast. Across all migration routes to Spain, a record 10,457 people died this year—averaging nearly 30 deaths every day.
The Mauritania-to-Canary Islands route was the deadliest, with 6,829 recorded deaths, primarily of migrants departing from the #SahelRegion.
Walking Borders criticized governments for prioritizing #ImmigrationControl over the #RightToLife. The group highlighted a lack of coordinated rescue efforts and the criminalization of migrants as key factors behind the rising death toll.
This latest tragedy underscores the urgent need for humane migration policies and strengthened international cooperation to address the root causes of forced migration.
