Over 10,000 Migrants Died Trying to Reach Spain by Sea in 2024

The year 2024 has marked a grim milestone in the ongoing migrant crisis. A staggering total of 131 boats filled with migrants vanished while attempting to reach Spain. This year has been recorded as the deadliest for migrants trying to cross the Atlantic and Mediterranean routes. According to a report by Caminando Fronteras, a Spain-based migrant rights organization, approximately 10,500 individuals lost their lives during this perilous journey. The report highlights a troubling trend: more people are resorting to using flimsy wooden and inflatable boats to reach European shores, leading to a significant increase in fatalities.

Alarming Statistics on Migrant Deaths

The report from Caminando Fronteras reveals that there has been a shocking 58 percent rise in migrant deaths along the western Euro-African border. From January 1 to December 15, 2024, the organization documented 10,457 deaths, averaging about 30 victims each day. This is a stark increase from the 18 daily deaths recorded in 2023. Among the deceased, 421 were women, and 1,538 were children and adolescents. The majority of victims hailed from Africa, but there were also significant numbers from Iraq, Pakistan, Syria, and Yemen.

The Atlantic route from Africa to Spain’s Canary Islands has emerged as the most lethal passage in the world. This is largely due to a surge in boats departing from Mauritania. The report indicates that 9,757 deaths occurred on this route alone, with 70 percent of victims traveling in wooden boats. European agencies have linked the rise in migration traffic to organized criminal groups involved in human trafficking in Mauritania. The Algerian route in the Mediterranean follows as the second deadliest, with 517 recorded deaths, while the Strait of Gibraltar has seen 110 fatalities and the Alborán route 73.

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Failures in Rescue Operations and Policy Criticism

The report criticizes Spanish authorities for their handling of the migrant crisis. It accuses them of implementing policies focused on controlling migration rather than ensuring the safety of those attempting the journey. Overloaded boats, which are often unfit for the rough Atlantic waters, continue to capsize. The report highlights several tragic incidents where rescue services were aware of the exact coordinates of distressed boats but failed to respond adequately or in a timely manner.

Moreover, Caminando Fronteras has raised concerns about the increasing number of women migrants on the Atlantic route. Many of these women travel on inflatable boats, known as ‘zodiacs,’ which are particularly dangerous in the turbulent Atlantic waters. The rising death toll has prompted the European Union and Spain to take action. The EU has invested nearly $220 million to help Mauritania manage migration flows more effectively. Spain, along with Italy and Greece, remains at the forefront of the maritime migration issue, which continues to be a contentious topic in EU politics.