Greater than 10,000 migrants died whereas attempting to succeed in Spain by sea this yr, a report launched by a Spanish migration rights group stated on Thursday.
On common, meaning 30 migrants died day by day this yr making an attempt to succeed in the nation by boat, Caminando Fronteras (Strolling Borders) stated. Total deaths rose 58 per cent in comparison with final yr, the report added.
Tens of hundreds of migrants left West Africa in 2024 for the Canary Islands, a Spanish archipelago near the African coast that has more and more been used as a stepping stone to continental Europe.
Caminando Fronteras stated a lot of the 10,457 deaths recorded up till Dec. 15. befell alongside that crossing, the so-called Atlantic route — thought of one of many world’s most harmful.
The group compiles its figures from households of migrants and official statistics of these rescued. It included 1,538 youngsters and 421 ladies among the many lifeless. April and Might have been the deadliest months, the report stated.
Caminando Fronteras additionally famous a “sharp enhance” in 2024 in boats leaving from Mauritania, which it stated turned the primary departure level on the path to the Canary Islands.
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In February, Spain pledged 210 million euros (round US$218 million) in assist to Mauritania to assist it crack down on human smugglers and stop boats from taking off.
Spain’s inside ministry says greater than 57, 700 migrants reached Spain by boat till Dec. 15 this yr, a roughly 12 per cent enhance from the identical interval final yr. The overwhelming majority of them got here by way of the Atlantic route.
© 2024 The Canadian Press
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