Global Courant
OVIEDO, Spain
A total of 951 migrants have died while trying to reach Spain in the first half of 2023, according to a report by the Walking Borders organization on Thursday.
The victims came from 14 countries, from Morocco to Congo, Syria to Sudan and Sri Lanka, according to the report.
Most perished during the Atlantic voyage to the Canary Islands. An estimated 778 people died en route, including all passengers on the 19 ships, making it one of the deadliest migration routes in the world.
The figure includes an estimated 36 people who died in the waters between Spain and Morocco in June. According to Walking Borders, although a Spanish coast guard ship was less than an hour away, its rubber boats had been sending messages of assistance for more than 10 hours before help arrived.
The Walking Borders made a formal request for a criminal investigation into the tragedy’s inaction on Thursday.
“We waited for hours, begged, searched everywhere, called the coast guards of Spain, the Moroccan navy, we sent positions, but no one came. A victim described as “The sea is very big and very frightening” was quoted in the report as FB. “The children were crying a lot, we had no water… I saw them dying before my eyes, they were falling into the sea.”
“When the rescue came, it was too late. The Moroccans threw us into the desert, I got burns and they got infected, thank goodness I’m alive. FB: When everyone wants to kill us, only God remains.
Although the Spanish Ministry of Interior reported that arrivals to the Canary Islands decreased by about 20% compared to last year, Walking Borders reported that the death toll on the same route remained the same.
“There has been a policy of death at the border for a long time. But in the face of rising death rates, we have found an increase in impunity, which deprives victims and their families of access to compensation and justice.” Walking Limits, Helena Maleno Garzon, in a statement.
In addition to those who lost their lives trying to reach the Canary Islands, 50 people died trying to cross the Gibraltar Plain, and 123 died when crossing the Mediterranean from Morocco or Algeria.
Only some of the news presented to subscribers in the AA News Broadcasting System (HAS) and in summary form are available on the Anadolu Agency website. Please contact us for subscription options.
