The report Monitoring the Right to Life – Year 2024, presented by the collective Caminando Fronteras, has revealed devastating figures on deaths on the migratory routes to Spain. More than 10,400 people died or disappeared in 2024 in their attempt to reach Spanish shores, an average of 30 people per day, consolidating this year as the deadliest since records have been kept. Of these figures, 93% of the victims, some 9,757 people, lost their lives on the Atlantic Route to the Canary Islands, making it the most dangerous in the world. This migratory corridor has not only remained the most lethal, but has seen a significant increase in departures from Mauritania, where 6,829 of the total deaths were recorded.
Deaths on the Atlantic Route: an aggravated problem
The Atlantic Route, which connects the south of Senegal and Mauritania with the Canary Islands, is known to be dangerous due to the length and adverse conditions of the route. The boats are often precarious and navigate in extreme weather conditions, which increases the risk of shipwreck. In addition, the report details that 131 vessels disappeared without trace during 2024, increasing uncertainty and grief for families.
Among the causes of the high number of deaths are the omission of relief at critical moments, border externalization policies that hinder immediate aid and the criminalization of the displacement of people. This combination has led to rescue operations being insufficient or arriving too late.
The other routes: an equally alarming scenario
Although the Atlantic route is the most lethal, it is not the only one with alarming figures. The report also mentions the dangerousness of other routes, such as the Atlantic route to the island of El Hierro and the Algerian route to the Balearic Islands. These routes, although less traveled, present extreme challenges due to distance and maritime conditions. Restrictive migration policies in Europe have also cemented these routes as viable options for many migrants, despite the risks. According to the report, conditions of extreme vulnerability and the lack of safe options drive thousands to attempt to cross these dangerous routes.
Women and children: the most vulnerable
Of the total number of deaths in 2024, 421 were women and 1,538 were children and adolescents. Women face a double challenge on these journeys, not only because of the inherent risk of the journey, but also because of sexual violence and discrimination. Children, meanwhile, are especially vulnerable to extreme conditions, such as lack of food and water, and long hours on overloaded boats. The lack of effective protection for these groups highlights a structural failure in border management and in upholding the human rights of migrants.
An urgent call to action
Helena Maleno, coordinator of the collective Caminando Fronteras, emphasizes the need to prioritize the right to life and strengthen rescue operations. The organization, which operates a 24-hour hotline, has been instrumental in recording and giving visibility to these tragedies. According to Maleno, the real figures could be even higher, as not all disappearances are reported. The report is a stark reminder of the urgency of implementing measures that guarantee safe routes and respect the rights of those seeking a better future. The human tragedy experienced along these migratory routes demands immediate and coordinated responses, not only at the local level, but also at the international level.
