After a week without food or fuel, 260 migrants rescued in the Atlantic

Mauritania’s coast guard has announced it rescued around 260 migrants, including 17 children, who were in danger at sea on Sunday. The migrants, who were on two boats that had departed from Banjul in Gambia, were mostly in shock, facing shortages of food, fuel and navigation problems. They are reported to have spent around a week at sea. Those rescued included 132 Senegalese, 120 Gambians, four Guineans and several other West African nationals. Besides the 17 children, 61 women were among those on board.

For years, thousands of people, mostly young, have tried to reach Europe via the Canary Islands through dangerous Atlantic crossings, often in overcrowded boats and often in poor conditions.

Many of them are fleeing poverty and choose to travel irregularly.