According to a recent report of 5 March 2025 of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees, in 2024, 1085 persons have drowned off the coast of Mauritania trying to reach the Canary Islands of Spain in the hope of finding work in Europe. In the past, Africans, especially from West Africa would cross from Senegal and then try to move on to North Africa, Morocco or Tunisia in an effort to reach Europe.
However in March 2024, the President of the European Union Commission Ursula van der Leyen and the Prime Minister of Spain Pedro Sanchez went to Nouakehott, capital of Mauritania to urge that the government take stronger measures to prevent migrants from leaving for Spain. The suggestion was accompanied by European Union funds to finance police and military action.
Increasingly, migrants in Mauritania are expelled to Senegal. However, Senegal is not equipped to deal with this new influx. The Senegalese Red Cross and a few European humanitarian organizations have created shelters for the migrants, but the number of shelters is inadequate.
Migration is a world-wide issue linked to conflicts, poverty, the consequences of climate change and the attraction of a richer life in foreign countries. Although the United Nations has made efforts for orderly and safe migration, in practice, migration is neither safe nor orderly. Governments have not responded adequately, and there are anti-migrant sentiments in parts of public opinion. There is a large role which non-governmental organizations can play. These efforts need to be coordinated and widened to meet the needs.
René Wadlow, Association of World Citizens
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