UNHCR Reports 144 Migrants Dead or Missing in Mauritania

The UNHCR disclosed on Tuesday that 144 migrants are dead or missing after three rescue operations conducted off the coast of Mauritania between July 14 and July 18. The agency reported that 143 people died aboard a single vessel that departed from Bufaloto, Gambia.

The boat drifted at sea for 25 days before arriving at the bodies of the victims, with 38 survivors receiving humanitarian assistance at the disembarkation point in Nouadhibou, Mauritania. UNHCR spokesperson Matt Saltmarsh stated that two children survived the voyage but lost family members during the journey and are currently receiving treatment in a hospital.

The agency has not confirmed whether the victims died from drowning, hunger, or thirst. Overall, three rescue operations from July 14 to July 18 saved 387 people.

Despite a decline in sea arrivals to Europe, the UNHCR warns that fatal migration routes remain alarmingly high, with 40,000 migrants reaching Europe by sea in 2026 compared to 65,407 in 2025.