UNHCR says 144 refugees and migrants reported dead or missing off Mauritania

The United Nations said 144 refugees and migrants were reported dead or missing after maritime incidents off Mauritania last week.

The UN refugee agency, UNHCR, said three rescue and disembarkation operations were carried out between July 14 and 18 in Nouadhibou, bringing 387 people of various nationalities safely ashore.

UNHCR said 143 people were reported dead or missing from one boat that had left Bufalo in Gambia and was heading for Spain. The agency said the vessel was rescued on Saturday after being stranded at sea for nearly 25 days. It said only 38 people from that boat were brought safely ashore, including two children who had lost all family members during the journey.

The agency said another death was reported on a ship whose passengers disembarked on July 14.

UNHCR spokesman Matthew Saltmarsh said in Geneva that the refugees and migrants were reported dead or missing after trying to travel by sea from West Africa toward Europe. He said the Atlantic route from West Africa toward the Canary Islands remains one of the world's deadliest mixed-movement routes because of long distances, unpredictable ocean conditions, overcrowded and unseaworthy boats, and limited access to timely rescue.

UNHCR said that so far in 2026, 17 disembarkations had been recorded in Nouadhibou and Nouakchott, with 2,147 people rescued.