A vessel that departed Senegal over a month ago with more than 100 migrants onboard has been saved by the coast guard in Cape Verde, but the grim outcome reveals just 38 survivors, leaving fears of over 60 casualties, according to officials.
The rescue operation took place approximately 385 miles off the West African coastline on Tuesday, with the boat’s departure date from Senegal noted as July 10. The United Nations International Organization of Migration spokesperson, Safa Msehli, conveyed details that among those found were seven deceased individuals and 38 survivors, including several children.
With an estimated 101 people believed to have been aboard the vessel when it set sail from Senegal, the somber reality is that approximately 56 individuals are unaccounted for and presumed to have tragically lost their lives, Msehli stated.
The circumstances surrounding the boat’s journey and the condition of its survivors upon rescue remain shrouded in uncertainty. Msehli shared that the survivors are currently in the process of recuperating after enduring over a month at sea.
Although the exact destination of the boat remains unclear, relatives of those on board have suggested that the vessel was bound for Spain.
The perilous route from West Africa to Spain has proven to be one of the world’s most treacherous journeys. Msehli highlighted the inherent dangers and unpredictability of this voyage, noting that stranded boats are not an uncommon occurrence along this route.
The vessel in question was identified as a sizeable fishing boat, referred to as a pirogue, by the Spanish migration advocacy group Walking Borders, as reported by the AP.
Disturbingly, data from Walking Borders, cited by the AP, indicates that nearly 1,000 migrants lost their lives attempting to reach Spain by sea during the first half of 2023.
This persistence in risking such dangerous routes underscores the deep desperation and hopelessness that many migrants are grappling with, according to Msehli. Factors like extreme poverty, climate change effects, conflicts, and violence collectively drive migrants and asylum seekers to embark on these perilous journeys.
Independent migration policy expert Zoe Gardner drew attention to the political turmoil in Senegal, suggesting it has been overlooked by mainstream news. She highlighted the deadly violence, internet shutdowns, and repression that have plagued the country for months.
You can also read: New Jersey High Court Backs Catholic School in Premarital Sex Firing
Gardner emphasized the absence of safe avenues for these victims to escape and build secure futures, pointing out the inherent rights they have to such hopes.
Recent times have witnessed Senegal rocked by fatal clashes between security forces and protesters following the conviction of prominent opposition party leader Ousmane Sonko, reflecting the nation’s tumultuous state.