At the very least 300 individuals who had been touring on three migrant boats from Senegal to Spain’s Canary Islands have disappeared, migrant support group Strolling Borders mentioned on Sunday.
Two boats, one carrying about 65 individuals and the opposite with between 50 and 60 on board, have been lacking for 15 days since they left Senegal to attempt to attain Spain, Helena Maleno of Strolling Borders informed Reuters.
A 3rd boat left Senegal on June 27 with about 200 individuals aboard.
The households of these on board haven’t heard from them since they left, Maleno mentioned.
All three boats left Kafountine within the south of Senegal, which is about 1,700 kilometres (1,057 miles) from Tenerife, one of many Canary Islands.
“The households are very anxious. There about 300 individuals from the identical space of Senegal. They’ve left due to the instability in Senegal,” Maleno mentioned.
The Canary Islands off the coast of West Africa have turn into the principle vacation spot for migrants making an attempt to succeed in Spain, with a a lot smaller quantity additionally in search of to cross the Mediterranean Sea to the Spanish mainland. Summer season is the busiest interval for all tried crossings.
The Atlantic migration route, one of many deadliest on the planet, is often utilized by migrants from sub-Saharan Africa. At the very least 559 individuals – together with 22 youngsters – died in 2022 in makes an attempt to succeed in the Canary Islands, in accordance with knowledge from the U.N.’s Worldwide Organisation for Migration.
SOURCE: REUTERS
