UN refugee agency says 144 dead or missing off Mauritania

UNHCR says 2,147 people were rescued in 17 sea arrivals recorded in Mauritania so far in 2026

---

Reuters July 21, 2026 1 min read

The Mauritanian coast guard carrying out a rescue operation on April 23, 2026. FILE: Photo: AFP

---

The UN refugee agency said on Tuesday that 144 people have been reported dead or missing off the coast of Mauritania while attempting to reach Europe.

The toll comes after three rescue operations in Mauritania between July 14-18, the UN agency said, calling for more access to education and labour opportunities to create alternatives to dangerous sea crossings.

A total of 143 people died on board a single vessel that left from Bufaloto, Gambia, and was rescued on July 18 after being stranded at sea for 25 days.

The vessel was carrying bodies and 38 survivors, according to the UNHCR, which was present at disembarkation in Nouadhibou, Mauritania, to provide support.

"Among the survivors of all that ship were two children who have lost all their family members during the journey and they are recovering in hospital," spokesperson Matt Saltmarsh told a UN briefing in Geneva.

He did not immediately have details on whether the victims drowned or died from hunger, thirst or other causes.

The victims were from sub-Saharan African countries, he said, without providing further details.

Read More: Afghans search for dozens missing after devastating flood

Another person was dead on arrival on another vessel that disembarked in Mauritania on July 14, UNHCR said.

Overall, three rescue operations were conducted between July 14-18 in Mauritania and 387 people survived, the UN agency added.

So far in 2026, 17 disembarkations have been recorded in Nouadhibou and Nouakchott, Mauritania, with 2,147 individuals rescued in total.

Arrivals of migrants and refugees to Europe by sea on major routes are down by more than a third this year, with just over 40,000 arrivals compared with 65,407 in the first half of 2025, UN data showed.

But the number of deaths and disappearances remains at "alarming levels", UNHCR said.