A harrowing report released by the NGO Caminando Fronteras reveals that at least 10,457 migrants have perished while attempting to reach Spain by sea in 2024.
This grim statistic marks the deadliest year on record for this perilous journey, with an average of 30 lives lost daily.
The Atlantic route, particularly the treacherous passage from northwest Africa to the Canary Islands, proved to be the most deadly, claiming the lives of 9,757 individuals.
The report highlights the critical role of inaction by search and rescue services in these tragic outcomes.
In 69% of the documented cases, a lack of timely intervention by authorities contributed significantly to the loss of life.
The report cites a specific instance where a boat carrying 150 people was left adrift for ten days despite distress calls, resulting in the tragic loss of 26 lives.
Furthermore, the report underscores the vulnerability of women and children, with over 2,000 women and 1,538 children losing their lives at sea this year.
Many of these individuals were fleeing conflict, poverty, and the devastating impacts of climate change.
The report also highlights the increasing dangers faced by migrants, including racism, forced labor, and violence, even before embarking on the perilous journey.
Caminando Fronteras attributes this tragic toll to a combination of factors, including the failure of search and rescue missions, the impact of externalized border policies, and the criminalization of migrants.
This report serves as a stark reminder of the human cost of the ongoing migration crisis and the urgent need for a more humane and compassionate approach to migration policies.