Gambians among at least 58 migrants dead at sea near coast of Mauritania

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By BABOUCARR CEESAY

The International Organization for Migration (IOM) has confirmed at least 58 men, women and children dead after a vessel filled with an estimated 150 migrants capsized at sea as it drew near the coast of Mauritania on Wednesday.

Migration officials said 83 others, including two women and at least 10 minors are receiving medical treatment after they swam to the shores.

The vessel bound for the Canary Islands left The Gambia on Wednesday, November 27, 2019.

IOM Mauritania Chief of Mission Laura Lungarotti said the vessel ran out of fuel, while IOM’s Leonard Doyle was quoted as saying that the boat was unseaworthy and overcrowded when it overturned.

“At the moment, access to migrants is limited as they are recovering from the shock and under the protection of the authorities. IOM staff are supporting the medical response by providing first aid kits, blankets and other supplies,” Laura stated on the IOM website.

Consular officials from The Gambia are said to be meeting with the survivors, while the injured transferred to the city hospital when an IOM doctor is expected to support the local response.

Reports reaching The Monitor from Mauratania have it that most of the recovered survivors come from The Gambia though our source did not confirm their exact figure.

According to IOM, 35,000 Gambian migrants arrived in Europe between 2014 and 2018.

Peopled with 1.8 million from the last census in 2013, The Gambia’s economy was thrashed by former president Yahya Jammeh’s 22 years of dictatorship which uncontrollably swelled the number of economic migrants taking the perilous journey to the west for ‘greener pastures.’

Jammeh’s departure to exile in Equatorial Guinea in January 2017 following his defeat by a coalition in the December 1, 2016 election witnessed deportation threats to deport more of Gambian migrants from Europe and America, among them asylum seekers.

Gambia’s youth council mourns
Despite the lack of immediate response from Gambian authorities, the National Youth Council (NYC) in a press release mourned the death of the 58 migrants and called on the Government to investigate the death.

Bereaved by the news of the tragic boat accident in the Atlantic Ocean off the coast of Mauritania, NYC expressed sorrow.

The youth council extended their heartfelt condolence to the families of departed souls and the entire nation, praying their fortitude and strength to bear the great loss.

NYC called on government to immediately investigate the circumstances surrounding the departure of the boat from the Gambia and take appropriate legal and remedial actions, prioritize and increase investment in youth development particularly employment creation and ensure proper coordination and accountability for resource allocated or mobilized for migration management.

The council also encouraged young people to be cautious of criminal groups engage in human smuggling and trafficking of vulnerable persons.