What's happened
A migrant boat capsized near El Hierro, Spain, resulting in nine confirmed deaths, including a child, and 48 people missing. Rescuers saved 27 of the 84 on board. This incident marks a potential humanitarian crisis as migrant crossings surge in the Canary Islands, with authorities fearing it could be the deadliest in 30 years.
Why it matters
What the papers say
According to the New York Times, 'Nine people were found dead, 27 were rescued and the authorities were searching for the other 48.' Al Jazeera reported that 'the chances of finding someone alive are slim,' reflecting the grim outlook for the missing. The Guardian highlighted that this incident could become 'the biggest humanitarian crisis to happen to the Canary Islands in 30 years,' emphasizing the urgent need for action. The South China Morning Post noted that 'patrol boats and helicopters searched on Sunday for about 48 migrants missing,' illustrating the ongoing rescue efforts.
How we got here
The Canary Islands have seen a significant increase in migrant crossings from West Africa, driven by political instability, climate change, and economic hardship. This year, approximately 29,500 migrants have attempted the perilous journey, nearly double from the previous year, highlighting the ongoing humanitarian crisis.
Common question
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Mauritania, officially the Islamic Republic of Mauritania, is a country in Northwest Africa. It is the eleventh largest sovereign state in Africa and is bordered by the Atlantic Ocean to the west, Western Sahara to the north and northwest, Algeria to the
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The Canary Islands, also known informally as the Canaries, are a Spanish archipelago and the southernmost autonomous community of Spain located in the Atlantic Ocean, in a region known as Macaronesia, 100 kilometres west of Morocco at the closest point.
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Senegal, officially the Republic of Senegal, is a country in West Africa. Senegal is bordered by Mauritania in the north, Mali to the east, Guinea to the southeast, and Guinea-Bissau to the southwest.
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Mali, officially the Republic of Mali, is a landlocked country in West Africa. Mali is the eighth-largest country in Africa, with an area of just over 1,240,000 square kilometres.
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El Hierro, nicknamed Isla del Meridiano, is the second-smallest and farthest-south and -west of the Canary Islands, in the Atlantic Ocean off the coast of Africa, with a population of 10,968. Its capital is Valverde.
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The International Organization for Migration is an intergovernmental organization that provides services and advice concerning migration to governments and migrants, including internally displaced persons, refugees, and migrant workers.
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Spain, officially the Kingdom of Spain, is a country in Southwestern Europe with some pockets of territory across the Strait of Gibraltar and the Atlantic Ocean. Its continental European territory is situated on the Iberian Peninsula.