UNHCR - Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees

07/21/2026 | Press release | Distributed by Public on 07/21/2026 03:57

UNHCR deeply saddened as 144 people reportedly dead or missing off West Africa

Briefing notes

UNHCR deeply saddened as 144 people reportedly dead or missing off West Africa

This is a summary of what was said by UNHCR spokesperson Matthew Saltmarsh - to whom quoted text may be attributed - at today's press briefing at the Palais des Nations in Geneva.
21 July 2026

GENEVA - UNHCR, the UN Refugee Agency, is extremely saddened and concerned at reports that 144 people are either dead or missing as a result of tragic maritime incidents off the coast of Mauritania last week.

The refugees and migrants were reported dead or missing after attempting the perilous sea journey from West Africa towards Europe, highlighting the continued human cost of these dangerous routes.

Overall, three rescue and disembarkation operations were conducted between 14 and 18 July in Nouadhibou, Mauritania, which brought 387 people safely ashore. UNHCR was present at all disembarkations alongside national authorities and humanitarian partners to support survivors and identify vulnerable individuals seeking international protection. Survivors came from various countries.

Passengers on one of the boats rescued on 18 July had experienced particular tragedy, with 143 people reported missing or dead and just 38 surviving after nearly 25 days stranded on the Atlantic after departing from Bufaloto, The Gambia, in an attempt to reach Spain. Among the survivors were two children, who had lost all their family members during the journey and are now recovering in hospital with other survivors.

Another death was reported among passengers on a boat that was disembarked on 14 July.

This is a stark reminder that, despite sustained efforts by coastal authorities and humanitarian partners to save lives, the Atlantic route from West Africa towards the Canary Islands remains one of the world's deadliest mixed movement corridors due to long distances, unpredictable ocean conditions, unseaworthy overcrowded boats and limited access to timely rescue.

Despite the number of arrivals to the Spanish archipelago dropping this year - by 61 per cent from 2025, with 4,400 arrivals as of 15 July - the incidents highlight the persistent risks faced by refugees and migrants attempting to reach Europe, many of whom are embarking over 2,000 km away from their intended destination.

Overall, arrivals to Europe by sea on the major routes are over 40,000 this year compared to 65,407 in the first half of 2025. Still, UNHCR and partners have repeatedly warned that deaths and disappearances at sea continue at alarming levels, with many incidents occurring far from public attention and often resulting in entire boats vanishing.

Against this backdrop, the rescues in Mauritania demonstrate that concerted efforts need to be made to address the root causes driving refugees and migrants to take these perilous journeys, while providing meaningful and quicker access to legal pathways through higher resettlement quotas, increased labour opportunities and education pathways as alternatives to the dangerous sea crossings.

So far in 2026, 17 disembarkations have been recorded in Nouadhibou and Nouakchott, with a total of 2,147 individuals rescued.

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