Nouadhibou –  At least 58 men, women and children are confirmed dead after a vessel carrying an estimated 150 migrants sank as it approached the coast of Mauritania on Wednesday.

Eighty-three others, including two women and at least 10 minors who managed to swim to shore are receiving medical assistance.

The vessel left The Gambia last Wednesday (27/11) bound for the Canary Islands when it ran low on fuel, IOM Mauritania Chief of Mission Laura Lungarotti says.

“At the moment, access to migrants is limited as they are recovering from the shock and under the protection of the authorities,” she said. “IOM staff are supporting the medical response by providing first aid kits, blankets and other supplies.”

Consular officials from The Gambia are meeting today with the survivors.

The injured have been transferred to the city hospital. An IOM doctor will arrive today to support the local response. 

For more information, please contact Laura Lungarotti at IOM Mauritania: Tel: +222 41 74 82 73, Email: llungarotti@iom.int 
Florence Kim at IOM Dakar: +221 78 620 62 13, Email: fkim@iom.int