According to migrant advocacy group Walking Borders, a staggering 10,457 people died in 2024 during sea journeys attempting to reach Spanish territories. This unprecedented figure, averaging approximately 30 fatalities daily, marks the highest death toll since the organization began tracking migrant deaths en route to Spain in 2007.
The data, released on December 26, indicates a stark 60% rise in fatalities compared to 2023.
Walking Borders attributes these deaths to multiple factors: substandard vessels, dangerous maritime routes, and limited rescue operations.
The group criticized the “systematic breakdown of rescue and protection mechanisms” and labeled this death toll an “intolerable humanitarian crisis” requiring global attention regarding migrant safety.
Most migrants, escaping violence, poverty, and oppression, utilized routes connecting West Africa to the Canary Islands, which have emerged as the primary gateway to Spain.
Many ventured across the Atlantic, characterized by its treacherous waters and dangerous currents.
Human smugglers frequently utilize this isolated path to bypass surveillance, thus heightening journey risks.
The Canary Islands, experiencing unprecedented migration surges in recent years, struggle to cope with the influx.
In October 2024, mass demonstrations occurred, with local residents demanding measures against unauthorized arrivals.
Government data shows that more than 60,000 migrants reached Spain by sea in 2024, representing a 15% increase from the previous year. The majority originated from West African nations.
Walking Borders noted Mauritania’s emergence as a key departure point in 2024, observing significant growth in departures from this West African nation.
To address the escalating crisis, Spain allocated approximately $218 million in February 2024 to support Mauritanian initiatives combating human trafficking and unauthorized departures.
Walking Borders has urged Spanish authorities to enhance their maritime safety and rescue operations.
The organization emphasizes the critical need for policy changes to prevent additional casualties and tackle the crisis’s underlying causes.
Straight Arrow News initially reported these Spanish immigration mortality statistics.
Sources: Lauren Taylor, Straight Arrow.
Walking Borders Report, 2024.