The Special Representative of the Secretary-General and Head of the United Nations Office for West Africa and the Sahel (UNOWAS) has called on regional and international leaders to uphold their engagement to stop the ‘death and despair’ along migration trails.
Sixty-two Gambian migrants including 11 women lost their lives after the boat they were travelling in to Spain capsized off the coast of Mauritania. The incident happened on 4 December.
Mohamed Ibn Chambas in a statement expressed his solidarity with the government and the people of The Gambia following what the UN called “this worst migrant tragedy of West Africa this year”.
“The Special Representative commends the government of The Gambia for the swift measures taken, and encourages all national stockholders to redouble their efforts in addressing this complex challenge.
“The Special Representative commends the support extended by the Mauritanian authorities to the survivors, and calls on regional and international leaders to uphold their engagement to stop death and despair along migration trails,” the statement issued on 9 December said.
