CAPE VERDE: A boat carrying migrants from Senegal overturned in the Atlantic Ocean off Cape Verde, causing over 60 deaths, according to the International Organisation for Migration (IMO). The boat capsized after leaving Fass Boye, a small fishing community, on July 10, approximately 90 miles north of Dakar, Senegal’s capital.
A Spanish boat was found drifting 150 miles north of Sal Island in Cape Verde. 4 children between the ages of 12 and 16 are among the 38 survivors, while at least 63 asylum seekers are believed to have dead, according to IOM.
The International Organisation for Migration reported that 56 people were missing, and seven others were confirmed dead.
The incident occurred west of Senegal, and the Cape Verde islands are located several hundred miles west of Senegal.
IMO spokesperson confirmed that all 101 passengers on board were from Senegal, and those missing at sea are assumed dead.
Smugglers are cramming migrants onto shoddy or overloaded vessels to travel from sub-Saharan Africa and other countries to Europe, posing enormous risks to flee conflict and poverty at home.
Thousands of migrants from West Africa depart ports annually for European territory, often using pirogues, despite the dangers of the route. Spanish migrant advocacy organization Walking Borders reported that at least 778 migrants died during the first half of the year while travelling from West Africa to Spain.
European nations have partnered with African nations to combat people smuggling and increase immigration enforcement funding. However, a fatal boat disaster off the coast of Dakar in late July resulted in at least 16 migrants dying.
The European Border and Coastguard Agency reported a 13% increase in irregular entries between January and July, reaching 176,100, the highest figure since 2016.
Frontex claimed that the jump in border detections was solely due to a 115% increase in the number of persons utilising the “central Mediterranean” route, which now makes up the principal migration route into the EU and is responsible for more than half of all detections.
Tunisian authorities reported a boat collapse killing at least 11 migrants and leaving seven unaccounted for. Another 41 passengers were believed to have died in choppy waters off the Italian island of Lampedusa the previous week.
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