Dozens of migrants drown in Western Sahara

Another 12 people survived the tragedy. The incident happened when boat carrying migrants sunk off Cap Boujdour (west coast of Western Sahara), the survivors were arrested, Ms. Helena Maleno of the Relief Service immigrant Caminando Fronteras announced on Twitter.

The bodies of seven victims have been brought to shore, but the other drowning victims have not yet been recovered.

It is not known where the boat is headed, but usually migrants leaving that area try to reach Spain’s Canary Islands.

Morocco is an important transit point on the routes of migrants hoping for a better life in Europe.

More than 40,000 migrants will arrive in Spain by sea in 2021. (Image: AP)

On May 6, Morocco and Spain said in a joint statement they were committed to strengthening cooperation on the issue of illegal immigration.

More than 14,700 migrants were intercepted and 52 people-smuggling networks busted in Morocco in the first three months of this year, according to figures from the Moroccan Interior Ministry.

Moroccan authorities prevented more than 63,120 border crossings in 2021 and shut down 256 smuggling networks.

According to Spain’s Interior Ministry, more than 40,000 migrants have arrived in the country by sea in 2021.

Also in 2021, 4,404 migrants were killed or went missing as they tried to reach Spain, the Caminando Fronteras Migrant Relief Agency said.

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