More than 5,000 migrants killed on perilous journey from North Africa to Spanish coast in January-May 2024

MADRID

A total of 5,054 people lost their lives on the irregular migration route from North Africa to the Spanish coast between January and May, according to a report released Wednesday by the Spanish non-governmental organization Caminando Fronteras (Frontline Defenders). 

The NGO emphasized that the route from the North African coasts to the Canary Islands, which has become the most frequented path for irregular migrants in recent years, has reached tragic levels of fatality in what is described as "journeys of hope" toward Europe.

Caminando Fronteras reported in a news conference that 4,808 of the deaths occurred on the Canary Islands route alone.

Statistically, it means that in the first five months of 2024, one irregular migrant died every 45 minutes, or 32 per day, in the Atlantic Ocean between North Africa and the Canary Islands.

The report underscored the unprecedented figures, noting that 6,007 irregular migrants lost their lives on the route throughout all of 2023.

The fact that more than 4,800 migrants died on the same route in just the first five months of 2024 is particularly alarming.

The report also highlighted specific dangers faced by migrants during this period, with January and February seeing the highest number of deaths -- 1,997 and 1,090 respectively -- due to severe meteorological conditions.

Forty-seven boats or dinghies sank on their way to the Canary Islands during this period, with no survivors from any of the accidents.

Caminando Fronteras criticized the lack of adequate search and rescue operations. "Necessary search and rescue tools are not being activated," it said.

The NGO, which gathers its data through interviews with irregular migrants or their families, pointed out that the deaths they recorded are often listed as "missing or unknown" in the official data of the Spanish Ministry of the Interior and the UN.  

*Writing by Aysu Bicer