144 migrants dead or missing off Mauritania in a week, one boat responsible for the tragedy

Herz — World Desk · 22 July 2026 at 17:37 · 30s summary · 3 min read

What we know

From July 13 to 19, 2026, 144 migrants died or went missing off Mauritania, according to the UNHCR (UN Refugee Agency, a UN programme based in Geneva responsible for protecting refugees). France 24 reports "around 150" for the same week — a difference in wording with no factual contradiction between the two sources.

Nearly all of this toll was caused by a single vessel departing from Bufalo, Gambia. The boat drifted for approximately 25 days in the Atlantic Ocean before being rescued on July 18, 2026: 143 passengers died or went missing, and 38 survived.

During the same period, three rescue operations brought 387 people safely to the port of Nouadhibou between July 14 and 18, 2026.

Facing these shipwrecks, the UN calls for strengthening safe migration pathways.

Timeline

1. Around June 23, 2026 (approximate date)
   A vessel departs from Bufalo, Gambia, carrying at least 181 people. The boat drifts for approximately 25 days in the Atlantic Ocean.
2. July 14–18, 2026
   Three rescue operations bring 387 people safely to Nouadhibou, Mauritania.
3. July 18, 2026
   The vessel from Bufalo is rescued after ~25 days adrift: 143 people dead or missing, 38 survivors.
4. July 13–19, 2026
   Weekly toll: 144 migrants dead or missing off Mauritania according to UNHCR. The UN calls for stronger safe migration pathways.

Key figures