The Moroccan Navy rescues more than 140 migrants in two boats that were going to the Canary Islands

The Moroccan Armed Forces have confirmed the rescue of more than 140 migrants, including four minors, after the interception of two boats due to “desirable” weather conditions in the waters of the Atlantic Ocean. The General Staff of the Royal Armed Forces has indicated in a statement published on its account on the social network Facebook that the first rescue took place on Monday 37 kilometers southwest of the city of La Güera, at the southern end of Western Sahara. –occupied by Morocco–, when 56 sub-Saharan migrants were rescued, including a minor. Thus, he highlighted that the boat “was in difficulties due to the bad weather conditions” in the area. “They were given the necessary help before being transported to the port of Dakhla and handed over to the Royal Gendarmerie to carry out the corresponding administrative procedures,” he said. On the other hand, the Moroccan Navy carried out a second rescue on Tuesday about 210 kilometers from Dakhla, also in the territory of Western Sahara, after finding a boat stranded due to “very unfavorable weather conditions.” There were 85 migrants on the boat, including three minors, according to the Moroccan state news agency, MAP. In January, 7,270 migrants arrived irregularly to the Canary Islands, according to data from the Spanish Ministry of the Interior. The figure already exceeded the arrivals corresponding to the entire first half of 2023 by 57 people. The International Organization for Migration (IOM) stated on February 21 that in 2023, 47 sinkings were recorded on this migratory route that resulted in death or the disappearance of 958 migrants, although he emphasized that the data on this route “remains scarce and incomplete.”