More than 10,000 migrants have died trying to reach Spain by sea this year, according to a report released Thursday by a Spanish migration rights group.
Caminando Fronteras (Walking Borders) said that on average, that meant 30 migrants died every day this year trying to reach the country by boat. The report added that the total number of deaths increased by 58% compared to last year.
Tens of thousands of migrants are set to leave West Africa in 2024 for the Canary Islands, a Spanish archipelago off the African coast that has increasingly been used as a stepping stone to continental Europe.
Caminando Fronteras said 10,457 deaths had been recorded as of December 15. Along with this crossing, the so-called Atlantic Passage — which is considered the most dangerous in the world.
The organization compiles its data from migrant families and official statistics on rescued persons. Among the dead are 1538 children and 421 women. April and May were the deadliest months, the report said.
Caminando Fronteras also noted a “sharp increase” in 2024 in boats departing from Mauritania, which it says will become the main departure point on the Canary Islands route.
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In February, Spain pledged 210 million euros (about US$218 million) in aid to Mauritania to help it crack down on human traffickers and stop the boats from plying their trade.
Spain's interior ministry says more than 57,700 migrants have arrived in Spain by boat as of Dec. 15 this year, up nearly 12 percent from the same period last year. The majority of them came via the Atlantic Ocean.
and copy 2024 Canadian Press