Title: Spanish NGO Alleges Failures by Authorities and Frontex in Preventing Migrant Deaths off West Africa
In a tragic incident off the coast of Cape Verde, at least 60 migrants are presumed dead after their boat was rescued. However, a Spanish human rights NGO, Caminando Fronteras, alleges that the national authorities and the European Border and Coast Guard Agency, Frontex, failed to prevent this devastating loss of life.
According to Caminando Fronteras, the death toll is believed to be as high as 92, with reports suggesting that approximately 130 migrants were aboard the boat when it departed from Senegal. The alarm was raised when family members contacted the NGO on July 20, expressing concerns that their loved ones had not reached the Canary Islands after setting sail from Senegal 10 days earlier.
In response to the distressing information, Caminando Fronteras promptly informed the relevant authorities in Spain, Senegal, Morocco, and Mauritania. However, the NGO alleges that efforts to rescue the stranded migrants were insufficient and that assistance from Frontex, along with the Senegalese and Mauritanian navies, was not provided when desperately needed.
Survivors who were rescued revealed harrowing details of their ordeal, explaining that they ran out of oil, food, and water, resulting in the gradual death of each individual. With the lack of adequate search and rescue efforts, it is feared that more lives have been lost.
Caminando Fronteras has been tirelessly advocating for greater search and rescue resources to save precious lives. However, their pleas received no response from the concerned authorities. In an attempt to obtain an official comment, CNN reached out to Frontex and the relevant authorities, but no response has been received thus far.
The alarming incident highlights the urgent need for stronger collaboration between countries and international organizations to prevent such tragedies. It also emphasizes the importance of providing sufficient search and rescue resources to prevent further loss of life in perilous migration journeys.
As the investigation into this devastating incident continues, the international community stands united in demanding answers and solutions to ensure the safety and security of migrants navigating treacherous waters off the West African coast.
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