The Ca-Minando Fronteras collective presented, this Wednesday, June 12, alarming figures concerning victims at the Euro-African border for the first five months of this year.
According to their report, the Atlantic route, namely the access route to the Canary Islands from Morocco, is particularly deadly, with 4,808 deaths, or 95% of total victims. The most dangerous departure areas include the coast between Guelmin and Dakhla with 249 victims, the Senegal route with 959 victims and that of Mauritania, the latter being the most fatal with 3,600 deaths. In comparison, Mediterranean routes caused 246 deaths, with the Algerian route representing the most perilous after the Atlantic route.
In total, according to the data collected, 5,054 people died or disappeared between January 1 and May 31, which represents a tragic average of 33 victims per day. Among these victims, there are 154 women and 50 children.
The significant increase in lethality at this border is attributed to migration policies focused on control rather than the protection of human life. Helena Maleno, research coordinator, denounced this situation: “We cannot standardize these figures and that is why we must demand that different countries place sea rescue protocols and the defense of the right to life above migration control measures.»
The month of April was the worst, recording nearly 1,200 victims, although the figures remained stable, exceeding 800 deaths each month.
The dramatic increase in deaths is also explained by bilateral agreements focused on controlling migration, without protocols to improve rescue operations. Furthermore, migrants continue to take dangerous routes despite unfavorable weather conditions and precarious boats.
This humanitarian crisis highlights the urgency of establishing effective rescue protocols. Helena Maleno insists: “It’s simply a matter of not letting people die at the borders and of putting all means in place to save the lives of people in danger..”
