Published on: 2026-11-09
Source: United Nations – United Nations –
An important disclaimer is at the bottom of this article.
November 9, 2026 Refugees and Migrants
Over the past weekend, at least 56 people died as a result of several shipwrecks off the coasts of Senegal and Greece. These tragedies highlight the deadly dangers faced by migrants on the Atlantic and Mediterranean routes, the International Organization for Migration (IOM) said on Monday.
“They were mothers and fathers, sons and daughters – people who left home in search of a better life,” said IOM Director General Amy Pope. “Migrant smugglers and human traffickers charged them money for dangerous journeys on boats unfit for sea travel. These networks profit from people’s desperation, and every day their activities put more migrants at risk. Countries must work together to fight them and create safe and legal migration pathways for people. Our thoughts today are with all the families awaiting news of their loved ones.”
Series of incidents
On Friday, November 6, a boat carrying migrants capsized off the northwest coast of Senegal near Lompoul, between Dakar and Saint-Louis. At least 34 people died. According to Senegalese authorities and media reports, one person was rescued; an unknown number of people are still missing. Search operations continue, and the death toll remains preliminary.
In separate incidents south of Crete in Greece, at least 22 people died after two migrant boats, departing from eastern Libya, were shipwrecked at sea. Greek authorities reported that in one case, 28 migrants from Sudan were rescued; the bodies of eight people were found, and several others are missing. In the second case, a cargo ship spotted the vessel in distress: 18 people were rescued, and the bodies of 14 deceased were found.
Heavy losses
These tragedies occurred on migration routes that continue to cause heavy losses. This year, the number of arrivals along the route from eastern Libya to Crete is increasing. Combined with the lack of search and rescue capabilities, this heightens concerns about the risks faced by people on the journey.
According to the IOM, as of October 26, 2026, at least 454 people have been recorded dead or missing on the West African Atlantic route alone. These figures are minimum estimates: many boats disappear without a trace.
Routes are changing
Recently, migration routes along the West African Atlantic direction have been changing: departures are increasingly shifting southward – towards Gambia, Guinea, and Guinea-Bissau. As a result, journeys are becoming longer, and the danger to migrants at sea is increasing. At the same time, people continue to cross the Mediterranean Sea, and dangerous crossings still lead to fatalities.
IOM once again calls on countries of origin, transit, and destination to engage in sustainable cooperation, including coordinating search and rescue operations, supporting survivors and families of the missing, strengthening the fight against networks involved in illegal migrant smuggling, and expanding safe and regular migration pathways.
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