On July 18, Doctors Without Borders/Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF) teams in Nouadhibou, Mauritania, supported the disembarkation of survivors from a boat that reportedly departed from The Gambia toward the Canary Islands. According to initial testimonies from survivors, around 190 people were on board. After 25 days at sea, only 38 people survived.
The survivors were first assisted by fishermen and the Mauritanian Coast Guard, then brought to the Mauritanian Red Crescent, which requested MSF’s support.
The incident is one of the deadliest disembarkations MSF teams in Mauritania have witnessed this year. It’s a stark reminder of the extreme dangers people face when they attempt to take the Atlantic migration route — a long, perilous crossing marked by the risks of shipwreck, dehydration, violence, severe psychological trauma, and above all, loss of life.
Survivors describe terrifying conditions at sea
In recent weeks, MSF teams in Nouadhibou have supported a total of three disembarkation interventions, one on July 14 and two on July 18, assisting a total of 387 people. Our teams carried out 66 medical consultations and referred nine people to specialized health facilities in Nouadhibou. Our response on July 18 included the boat that had departed from The Gambia. MSF teams found the survivors suffering from post-traumatic shock, psychosis, bone fractures, traumatic injuries, and hypothermia.
Survivors described terrifying conditions at sea, as well as the loss of relatives and other passengers during the crossing. MSF teams observed acute psychological distress among survivors. The severity of the testimonies and the scale of the loss of life also had a significant psychological impact on the teams involved in the response.
“What our teams saw in Nouadhibou is deeply shocking,” said Fouzia Bara, MSF migration program manager. “People arrived after weeks spent at sea, exhausted, traumatized, and grieving the loss of relatives and other passengers who did not survive the crossing. One of the 38 survivors MSF teams cared for said she had seen her sister die before her eyes. No one should have to endure such suffering while seeking safety or dignity.”
MSF launched Atlantic migration project amid increasing tragedies at sea
The Atlantic migration route has become one of the deadliest in the world. According to the Spanish NGO Caminando Fronteras, almost 10,000 people were reported dead or missing while attempting the Atlantic crossing in 2024, and almost 2,000 in 2025. It is very likely that the actual number of deaths is higher than these reported figures, as not all sea crossings are reported or lead to rescues.
MSF launched its Atlantic migration project in Mauritania in response to the increasing tragedies at sea. In Nouadhibou, we began providing direct assistance during disembarkations and interceptions in December 2024, before strengthening our response with the opening of the Center for Reception, Care, and Assistance (CASA) in April 2025. The center supports the most vulnerable people, whether they are migrants or of Mauritanian origin.
Although arrivals in the Canary Islands have decreased this year, the risks remain extreme. According to the UN Refugee Agency, arrivals in the Spanish archipelago have decreased by 61 percent compared to 2025, with 4,400 arrivals recorded as of July 15. Yet recent incidents underline the persistent dangers faced by refugees and migrants attempting to reach Europe, many of whom depart from points located more than 1,200 miles from their intended destination.
Saving lives must become the immediate priority
MSF calls for urgent measures to prevent further deaths on the Atlantic route. Search and rescue mechanisms must be strengthened, adequately resourced, and able to respond effectively to the needs of people in distress at sea. At the same time, safe and legal pathways are needed to reduce the risks people are forced to take when seeking protection, safety, or a better future.
“The deaths of these men, women, and children must not be met with silence,” added Bara. “MSF calls on governments and relevant authorities to place the preservation of human life at the center of their migration policies, to strengthen search and rescue capacities, and to ensure that no person in distress at sea is left without assistance.”
MSF urges the governments of countries along the migration route, as well as European states and regional and international actors, to work collectively to prevent further loss of life. Saving lives at sea and ensuring humane and dignified assistance to survivors must be an immediate priority.
