(CLO) On a Monday morning in September, a group of fishermen accidentally discovered a wooden boat filled with migrant corpses drifting about 70 km from Senegal's capital Dakar.
The bodies are believed to be those of migrants who made the dangerous 2,000km journey from Senegal to Spain's Canary Islands, where they hoped for a new life.
According to fishermen, more and more people are risking their lives on rickety wooden boats, some of which capsize and drift across the Atlantic, never to reach their destination. Despite knowing the risks, including death from starvation, dehydration and drowning, thousands of migrants from Senegal continue to make the journey each year, with no signs of slowing down.
Migrant boats arrive at the port of La Restinga, in the southernmost part of Spain. Photo: A. Sampere
While other Mediterranean routes have seen a decline, the West African route has seen a significant increase. Figures from Frontex show that the route has seen a 100% increase in migrants this year, bucking the overall trend. Experts and aid agencies have expressed concern about the rising death toll along the route.
Ousmane, a migrant who made the perilous journey, said he witnessed death and suffering on the cramped boat, surrounded by bodies. “Women cried, men cried, because we didn’t know who was next,” Ousmane said.
While he survived, other passengers were not so lucky. Figures from this year show that more than 800 people have died on the journey, a 76% increase from the previous year.
In some cases, entire migrant boats have perished. Rescuers found at least 30 bodies on a boat off the coast of Senegal in September. The state of decomposition of the bodies suggested the boat had been adrift for days before it was discovered.
Experts point to poverty and lack of employment opportunities as the main reasons why more and more people from Senegal are making the dangerous journey. “The typical Senegalese lives on rice and a little fish, there is no work, and persistent poverty has forced them to look for opportunities elsewhere,” explains Douglas Yates, associate professor of African politics at the American Graduate School in Paris.
In addition to poverty, politics and social unrest also contribute to the migration trend. Some people leave Senegal to escape political problems and seek a better life in Europe.
The Canary Islands have become a popular destination for migrants and human traffickers. As a Spanish territory, they are a gateway to Europe, so many migrants from West Africa choose to make the journey despite knowing the dangers.
The Senegalese government has announced a 10-year plan to tackle irregular migration and reduce migrant deaths. However, the plan has yet to show clear results. Illegal border crossings through the Canary Islands have increased significantly, with more than 40,000 people attempting the crossing in 2023, the highest level in three decades.
Despite knowing the risks, migrants continue to risk their lives for a better life. One migrant, Moussa, said he would continue the dangerous journey next year. "I want to have a job and a stable life. That's why I decided to do this trip," he said.
Hoai Phuong (according to NZHerald, Telegraph)
Source: https://www.congluan.vn/nhung-chiec-thuyen-ma-cho-day-thi-the-troi-dat-tren-dai-tay-duong-post327767.html
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