Dozens of migrants drown as boat sinks off Mauritania
Nouakchott: At least 62 migrants travelling on a makeshift boat have drowned off the coast of Mauritania, in the worst loss of life this year along the increasingly travelled western Atlantic migration route to Europe.
Eighty-three survivors managed to swim to shore after their boat, which was heading for Spain's Canary Islands, capsized when it hit a rock.
The migrants "were mostly clandestine immigrants trying to reach Spain, coming from Banjul in Gambia," Mauritania's interior ministry said in a statement released Wednesday night.
An original death toll of 58 given by the International Organization for Migration rose to at least 62 Thursday, as several dead bodies washed ashore during the day.
A Mauritanian security official said five other bodies had been found on Thursday, but the IOM could only confirm four other bodies.
The migrant vessel sank some 25 kilometres (15 miles) north of the town of Nouadhibou, near the border with Western Sahara, a Mauritanian security official told AFP.
"The craft hit a rock in the middle of the sea, it started taking on water and the engine fell apart," the official said. "They weren't far from the shore, but a large swell stopped them from reaching the coast by boat." The official added that there was nothing aboard and that the migrants were hungry and cold so they jumped into the sea and started swimming.
The IOM said survivors had been trying to reach the Canary Islands and that the boat left The Gambia on November 27.
Attempts to reach the Canary Islands from West African countries has increased in recent years as authorities have clamped down on crossings to Europe from Libya.
Florence Kim, an IOM spokeswoman, said that there has been a "semi deviation of the migration route".
The sinking in Mauritania is the largest known loss of life along the so-called western route this year, and the sixth deadliest migrant drowning globally, according to IOM data.
Some 158 people are known to have died trying to reach the Canary Islands so far this year, according to the IOM, against 43 last year. Survivors of Wednesday's sinking told the IOM there were at least 150 people aboard, including women and children.
Mauritania's interior ministry also said the vessel was carrying between 150 and 180 people, adding that most of the passengers were between the ages of 20 and 30.
It said 10 survivors needed emergency medical treatment. Eighty-five survivors had been taken in in line with "human solidarity" and "African hospitality," it said.
Those in need of treatment were transported to a hospital in Nouadhibou, where a doctor, who requested anonymity, said they arrived "exhausted, starving, their morale at zero".
Laura Lungarotti, the head of the IOM mission in Mauritania, said the priority was now caring for the survivors. Mauritanian authorities have contacted their Gambian counterparts, and the country's ambassador is expected to visit Nouadhibou.
Kim, the IOM, spokeswoman said that the reasons behind migration from places such as The Gambia were complex, and not only economic.
"Migration isn't just an individual decision, it's a family one. It's also a sort of initiation rite. You become a man once you've migrated," she said.
Mauritania's interior ministry said the tragedy of "the phenomenon of clandestine immigration which is decimating the African youth".
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Indian passengers stuck in Abu Dhabi heave sigh of relief on arrival at Bengaluru airport
Bengaluru (PTI): Relief was writ large on the faces of Indian passengers who arrived at the Kempegowda International Airport here from the UAE, ending a period of high tension fueled by the conflict in West Asia.
Upon arrival on Monday night, the passengers recollected the tense moments of a missile attack in the Gulf nation, before flying towards safety.
Travellers thanked Etihad Airways, the Abu Dhabi government and the Indian government for ensuring their safety and providing accommodation and transport during the disruption.
Saurabh Shetty, who hails from Mangaluru and works for an oil company in Abu Dhabi, described the situation as “worrisome and scary”.
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“When I came to catch my flight on February 28, everything seemed alright. Suddenly, near the check-in area, we got an alarm and were asked to sit down. We were cautioned not to sit near the windows because of a missile threat,” he told PTI videos.
“Someone said, ‘Missile is going to hit.’ We were shocked. We were like we are in the safest city — Abu Dhabi. How can this happen here? Later, when we looked outside, we saw a missile. We never thought such things could happen here. Everyone was calling to check if we were safe. Thankfully, we were safe inside the airport,” Shetty added.
Calling it a “life-breaking moment”, he said, “When you see a missile in front of you, you feel it may hit you any moment. From my (hotel) room, I could see interceptions happening in the sky. At that time, I thought about how the Indian Army faces such situations. We have great respect for them.”
He also expressed condolences for those who lost their lives. “We survived and returned home. If one missile had hit, we would not be here. All we wanted was to see our families,” he said, while appreciating the authorities in Abu Dhabi for taking care of stranded passengers.
Mahesh, who was travelling from Boston, lauded the airline’s arrangements.
“One flight has landed from Abu Dhabi. The service was great. They provided us a good hotel and arranged food. We stayed comfortably. Around 15 to 16 flights operated today, and they are expecting more to resume. Only partial airspace is available right now,” he said.
Ramya, a Bengaluru resident who had travelled to Dubai and Abu Dhabi, said, “Our return flight was cancelled initially. Today (March 2), Etihad arranged another flight for us. As of now, the situation seems peaceful, but as a precautionary measure, they had closed the airspace. Only about 15 flights have been allowed.”
Bharat said the situation has improved. “The last two days were a little scary. But, today it is better. They arranged flights for us to return. Special thanks to the Indian and UAE governments for extending our stay and accommodating us,” he said.
Niruban from Coimbatore said there was some delay due to drone activity, but the journey back was smooth. “Thanks to Etihad Airways, we reached safely....The Abu Dhabi government took very good care of us. Within four to five hours, they arranged transport to good hotels and ensured everyone’s safety. Even while returning to the airport, proper transportation was arranged.”
Prasad, a software developer working in Bengaluru, said while Abu Dhabi was relatively stable, the atmosphere remained tense.
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“We heard sounds and felt vibrations. There were interceptions happening, and some debris reportedly fell near the airport. Dubai was said to be worse. But the authorities provided accommodation free of cost and coordinated well with the Indian authorities. My advice to those there is to follow government guidelines,” he said.
Girimalappa Kerur, originally from Bilgi in Bagalkot district and currently based in Bengaluru, said he was travelling to Paris on a business trip but got stranded.
“We could hear explosions, and we were told around 15 missiles were intercepted in Abu Dhabi. One person reportedly died due to debris. Etihad arranged a safe hotel away from the airport. They are operating about 15 flights a day between 5 am and 5 pm to clear the backlog from February 28. I cancelled my onward trip to Paris and returned to Bengaluru. I’m relieved to be back,” he said.
