At least 56 migrants have died in separate shipwrecks off Senegal and Greece, according to the International Organization for Migration (IOM), which has called for stronger action against human trafficking networks and safer migration routes.
At least 56 migrants have died in a series of shipwrecks off the coasts of Senegal and Greece over the weekend, the International Organization for Migration (IOM) has reported.
The organisation, in a statement on Monday, described the incidents as a grim reminder of the deadly risks migrants face while attempting to cross the Atlantic and Mediterranean seas in search of better opportunities.
IOM Director General, Amy Pope, said the victims included men, women and children who embarked on dangerous journeys aboard vessels unsuitable for travelling at sea.
“These were mothers, fathers, sons and daughters, people who left home hoping for a better life.
“Smugglers and traffickers charged them for a dangerous journey on boats that were not fit for the sea. These networks profit from desperation, and every day they operate, more lives are put at risk.
“Countries must go after them together and give people safe, legal ways to move. Our hearts are with every family waiting for news,” Pope said.
According to Senegalese authorities and public reports, at least 34 people died on Friday when a migrant boat capsized near Loumpoul, off the coast of northwestern Senegal, between Dakar and Saint-Louis.
The IOM said only one survivor had been rescued, while an unknown number of people remained missing as search operations continued.
It added that the death toll from the incident remained provisional.
In separate incidents south of Crete, Greece, at least 22 migrants died after two boats that had departed from eastern Libya encountered difficulties at sea.
In the first incident, Greek authorities rescued 28 Sudanese migrants and recovered eight bodies, while several others were reported missing.
In the second incident, a cargo ship spotted a migrant boat in distress, leading to the rescue of 18 survivors and the recovery of 14 bodies.
The IOM expressed concern over increasing migrant arrivals along the eastern Libya-Crete route to mainland Europe this year, warning that gaps in search and rescue capacity were worsening the dangers faced by people attempting the journey.
The organisation disclosed that it had recorded at least 454 deaths and disappearances along the Western African Atlantic Route as of October 26.
It cautioned that the figure represented only minimum estimates, as many boats disappear without survivors or any trace.
According to the IOM, departures along the route have increasingly shifted southwards towards The Gambia, Guinea and Guinea-Bissau, resulting in longer journeys and exposing migrants to greater risks at sea.
The organisation called for sustained cooperation among countries of origin, transit and destination to strengthen coordinated search and rescue operations and provide support for survivors and families of missing migrants.
It also urged governments to intensify efforts against human smuggling networks and expand safe and regular migration pathways to reduce the number of people risking their lives on dangerous sea crossings.
Visit GMTNewsng for more news stories.
