In just ten days, 1,076 people have been rescued in Mauritanian waters, said Ahmed Moulaye, head of the Mauritanian coast guard.
Thousands of people have tried to reach Europe from West Africa in recent years. Most are young and crammed into small, overcrowded and often dilapidated boats called pirogues by Mauritanians.
Due to recently tightened maritime controls in Senegal, Mauritania and Morocco, migrant boats have had to find new routes to reach Europe. Many boats are instead departing from The Gambia and Guinea, making the journey longer and increasing the risks for the migrants.
