More than 1,000 migrants have been rescued from the Atlantic Ocean after attempting the increasingly dangerous migration route from West Africa to Europe, according to Doctors Without Borders, also known as Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF).
The humanitarian organisation said 1,046 people travelling in seven boats were rescued during the last week of August after becoming stranded while attempting to reach Spain’s Canary Islands.
The boats had reportedly departed from The Gambia, carrying predominantly young people seeking to reach Europe through one of the world’s most perilous migration routes. Following their interception, the migrants were taken to Nouadhibou in Mauritania, as well as Rosso and Dakar in Senegal, where they received medical assistance.
MSF said the condition of many of those rescued was critical. Survivors were suffering from severe dehydration, extreme exhaustion, unconsciousness, bone fractures, and skin, gastric and respiratory infections as a result of the difficult journey and prolonged exposure to harsh conditions at sea.
The organisation also highlighted the severe psychological toll of the journey, saying some survivors had witnessed fellow passengers and loved ones die during the crossing.
Among those rescued were 134 women, including one pregnant woman, and 88 minors. Most of the migrants were from Senegal and The Gambia, while others came from Mali, Guinea, Côte d’Ivoire and several other countries.
According to accounts given to MSF, some migrants had experienced violence not only during the journey but also in their countries of origin and at different points along the migration route.
The Atlantic migration route to Spain’s Canary Islands has become one of the main pathways used by migrants attempting to enter Europe. Migrants often undertake the journey in overcrowded, poorly equipped and unsafe boats, sometimes travelling for days without adequate food, water or protection from the elements.
Despite the enormous risks, thousands continue to attempt the crossing each year. Many migrants cite poverty, unemployment, insecurity, conflict and a lack of economic opportunities as reasons for leaving their home countries.
