The International Organization of Migration (IOM) is “deeply saddened" by the drowning of at least 140 people off the coast of Senegal. This is the deadliest shipwreck recorded in 2020,” said a UN Spokesperson.
Speaking to reporters in New York today (29 Oct), UN Spokesperson Stéphane Dujarric said, “local community members told IOM the vessel carrying about 200 migrants left Mbour, a coastal town in western Senegal last Saturday (24 Oct) and was trying to reach the Canary Islands.” Dujarric continued, “the boat caught fire in a few hours after departure and capsized near Saint-Louis, on the northwest coast of Senegal. 59 people were rescued, the bodies of 20 were found while 120 are presumed dead.”
According to IOM, “the Government of Senegal and IOM have arranged a mission to travel to Saint-Louis to assess the needs of survivors and provide immediate psychosocial assistance.”
The International Organization of Migration called for “unity between governments, partners and the international community to dismantle trafficking and smuggling networks that take advantage of desperate youth.” With this tragic shipwreck, at least 414 people are known to have died along this route in 2020 according to IOM’s Missing Migrants Project, and in all of 2019, it has recorded 210 fatalities.
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