The United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) says at least 144 migrants have been reported dead or missing off the coast of Mauritania after attempting the dangerous sea crossing to Europe.
UNHCR disclosed this on Tuesday, following three rescue operations conducted in Mauritania between July 14 and July 18, urging governments to expand access to education and employment opportunities to reduce the risks driving irregular migration.
According to the agency, 143 people died aboard a single vessel that departed Bufaloto in The Gambia and was rescued on July 18 after drifting at sea for 25 days.
The boat arrived with the bodies of the victims and 38 survivors, who received humanitarian assistance from UNHCR officials at the disembarkation point in Nouadhibou, Mauritania.
UNHCR spokesperson Matt Saltmarsh told a news briefing in Geneva that two children survived the voyage but lost all their family members during the journey. He said the children are currently receiving treatment in hospital.
Saltmarsh said the agency could not immediately confirm whether the victims died from drowning, hunger, thirst or other causes. He added that the victims were nationals of several sub-Saharan African countries.
The agency also reported that one person was found dead on arrival aboard another vessel that reached Mauritania on July 14.
Overall, the three rescue operations carried out between July 14 and July 18 saved 387 people, according to UNHCR.
The agency said 17 migrant disembarkations have been recorded in Nouakchott so far in 2026, with 2,147 people rescued in total.
Despite a decline in sea arrivals to Europe, UNHCR warned that fatalities on migration routes remain alarmingly high.
According to UN data, just over 40,000 migrants and refugees have reached Europe by sea in 2026, compared with 65,407 during the same period in 2025. However, the agency said deaths and disappearances along the routes continue at unacceptable levels.
