144 migrants reported dead or missing off Mauritania coast in bid to reach Europe: UN

At least 144 migrants and refugees have been reported dead or missing off the coast of Mauritania after attempting the dangerous sea crossing to Europe, the UN refugee agency (UNHCR) said on Tuesday.

The deaths were recorded during three rescue operations carried out between July 14 and July 18, highlighting the continuing risks faced by people trying to reach Europe by sea.

143 die aboard boat stranded at sea for 25 days

According to UNHCR, the deadliest incident involved a boat that departed from Bufaloto in Gambia and drifted at sea for 25 days before being rescued on July 18.

By the time the vessel reached Nouadhibou in Mauritania, 143 people on board had died. Rescue teams recovered the bodies and rescued 38 survivors, who received humanitarian assistance from UNHCR.

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UNHCR spokesperson Matt Saltmarsh said two children who survived the journey lost all of their family members during the voyage and are currently recovering in hospital.

The agency did not immediately confirm whether the victims died from drowning, dehydration, starvation or other causes. It said those on board were from sub-Saharan African countries.

Three rescue operations save 387 people

UNHCR said another migrant was declared dead on arrival after a separate boat reached Mauritania on July 14.

Overall, three rescue operations conducted between July 14 and July 18 rescued 387 people. So far this year, Mauritania has recorded 17 migrant disembarkations in Nouadhibou and Nouakchott, with a total of 2,147 people rescued.

Sea arrivals fall, but deaths remain high

Although the number of migrants and refugees reaching Europe by sea has declined significantly this year, the journey remains extremely dangerous.

According to UN data, just over 40,000 people have arrived in Europe by sea so far in 2026, compared with 65,407 during the same period last year.

Despite the drop in crossings, UNHCR warned that the number of deaths and disappearances on migration routes remains at "alarming levels" and called for greater access to education, employment opportunities and safer migration pathways to reduce the need for perilous sea journeys.