Mauritanian Coast Guard Rescues 260 Migrants After Seven Days at Sea
Mauritania’s Coast Guard has rescued 260 migrants from two boats after they spent about a week stranded at sea along the country’s Atlantic coastline.
The rescue operation took place on Sunday after the vessels were located near Nouakchott, the Mauritanian capital. According to the Coast Guard, the passengers had endured severe difficulties during the journey after their food supplies ran low and the boats experienced fuel and navigation problems.
The migrants had reportedly departed from Banjul, the capital of The Gambia, before beginning the dangerous Atlantic crossing.
Officials said the rescued group comprised 132 Senegalese nationals and 120 Gambians, alongside four Guineans and other West Africans.
The group included 61 women and 17 children, according to the Coast Guard. Authorities said many of those on board were in a state of shock when they were found following their prolonged time at sea.
The Atlantic migration route from West Africa to Spain’s Canary Islands remains one of the most dangerous routes used by migrants seeking to reach Europe.
Thousands of people, many of them young, attempt the crossing each year in overcrowded boats, some of which are poorly equipped for long journeys across the ocean.
Economic hardship and limited opportunities are among the factors that drive some migrants to undertake the journey. At the same time, tighter European border controls and restrictions on legal entry have made irregular routes an option some people continue to pursue despite the risks.
The latest rescue again highlights the dangers faced by migrants attempting the Atlantic crossing, particularly when vessels run into mechanical, fuel, food or navigation problems far from shore.
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