By Adama Makasuba
With great sadness, we learned of the tragic incident off the Mauritanian coast on Thursday, July 25. A migrant ship carrying 180 individuals, including a pregnant mother and other African nationals, encountered disaster. According to Ebrima Drammeh, a migrant activist, 49 Gambians, including the pregnant woman, have been confirmed dead, while 77 individuals are still missing, including Senegalese and Ivorian nationals.
Thankfully, 45 Gambian survivors have been relocated to the IOM facility with the support of the Gambia embassy in Nouakchott. Plans are underway to arrange a flight to repatriate them to Gambia. At the same time, rescuers have recovered over 25 bodies from the sea, but their identities remain unknown.
This devastating incident comes shortly after the interception of two migrant boats by the Gambian army, illustrating the continued dangers faced by those seeking to make the arduous journey to Europe.
