Over 300 individuals embarking on a perilous journey from Senegal to Spain in three separate boats have vanished, sparking grave concerns about their well-being on a route notorious for its dangers. The Spanish aid organization, Walking Borders (Caminando Fronteras), reported that two vessels carrying approximately 100 people each departed from Mbour, a coastal city in central Senegal, on June 23rd. A third boat, with an estimated 200 passengers, left Kafountine, a southern Senegalese town, four days later.
Communication with all three boats has ceased since their departure, heightening anxieties. Helena Maleno Garzon, coordinator for Walking Borders, stressed the urgency of locating the missing individuals and called for increased search efforts, stating, "The most important thing is to find those people. There are many people missing in the sea. This isn’t normal. We need more planes to look for them."
Spain's Maritime Rescue Service reported sighting a vessel matching the description of one of the missing boats approximately 80 miles from Gran Canaria, one of the Canary Islands. The vessel, identified as a multi-colored Senegalese pirogue (a type of long canoe), appeared to be carrying around 200 people. A rescue boat was dispatched, but the journey to reach the sighted vessel was estimated to take two hours.
The Atlantic migration route is tragically known for its high mortality rate, with Walking Borders reporting nearly 800 deaths or disappearances in the first half of 2023 alone. The Canary Islands have become a primary destination for those attempting to reach Spain, with over 23,000 migrant arrivals in 2020 and over 7,000 in the first six months of 2023, according to Spain's Interior Ministry. This incident follows another devastating migrant drowning in the Mediterranean Sea last month, where over 500 people are presumed dead, highlighting the ongoing challenges and criticisms surrounding the European Union's efforts to prevent such tragedies.
While most migrant boats originate from Morocco, Western Sahara, and Mauritania, Walking Borders notes a recent increase in departures from Senegal, with at least 19 boats arriving in the Canary Islands since June. Various factors, including economic hardship, lack of employment, extremist violence, political instability, and climate change impacts, drive individuals to risk their lives on these perilous journeys. Recent protests in Senegal, resulting in 23 deaths, further underscore the volatile situation.
A mother whose two sons, aged 19 and 24, were on one of the missing boats from Mbour shared her anguish and desperate hope for their safe return. She described their aspirations to lift the family out of poverty and her attempts to dissuade them from the risky voyage. Armed with traditional spiritual items for protection, the young men embarked on their journey, leaving their mother clinging to the belief that they are still alive.
Walking Borders continues to advocate for increased search and rescue efforts, emphasizing the need for a more robust response to such crises. Maleno poignantly questioned the hypothetical response if 300 American citizens were lost at sea, highlighting the disparity in resources and urgency often applied to such situations.
