More than 10,000 people have died trying to reach Spain by sea.

 Thursday, December 26, 2024

Islamabad (UrduPoint News Today / Pakistan Point News - DW Urdu - December 26, 2024) According to the group Cominando Fronteras (Walking Borders), this number means that an average of 30 migrants have died every day this year trying to reach Spain by boat. The report added that the overall number of deaths this year has increased by 58% compared to last year.

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In 2024, thousands of migrants from West Africa reached the Spanish Canary Islands, located off the African coast. These islands are considered the first stop on the way to mainland Europe.

The report by Cominando Fronteras said that most of the 10,457 deaths recorded as of December 15 occurred along the so-called Atlantic route, considered one of the most dangerous sea routes in the world.

The organization compiles its figures based on official data on migrant families and those rescued. According to the figures, 1,538 children and 421 women were among the dead. The report also said that April and May were the deadliest months.

Cominando Fronteras also noted a “rapid increase” in the number of migrant boats departing from Mauritania in 2024, which has become the main point of entry for reaching Europe via the Canary Islands.

In February, Spain pledged 210 million euros (about $218 million) in aid to Mauritania to crack down on human traffickers and stop migrant boats from setting off from there.

Spain’s Interior Ministry says more than 57,700 migrants have arrived in Spain by boat as of December 15, a 12 percent increase from the same period last year. The majority of them arrived in Spain via the Atlantic Ocean.

A B A/M M (Associated Press)