Nine migrants believed to have come from West Africa in a boat off the coast of Brazil’s Amazon region were laid to rest in a ceremony.
The bodies of migrants, said to have set off from Mali and Mauritania towards Europe, were found by fishermen off the coast of Para state on April 13th.
Officials estimate that the 12-meter-long boat left Mauritania on January 17th.
The discovery of 25 raincoats and 27 cell phones on the boat indicates that the actual number of passengers was much higher.
The boat, resembling canoes used by Mauritanian fishermen, is believed to have carried migrants aiming to enter the European Union (EU) via Spain’s Canary Islands from West Africa.
Mauritanian fishing canoes are frequently used along this route.
The deceased were laid to rest in a ceremony organized by Brazilian police, navy, civil defense agencies, as well as groups involved in rescue efforts such as the UN Refugee Agency, Red Cross, and International Organization for Migration.
“Number of individuals attempting to cross from Africa to EU has increased by 500%” According to the Spanish Ministry of Interior, there has been a 500% increase this year in the number of migrants attempting to cross from northwest Africa’s coasts to the EU.
Most of these individuals embark from Mauritania.
However, due to strong Atlantic winds, boats running out of fuel or breaking down during the perilous journey can drift off course for months.
This often leads to migrants dying from thirst and hunger.
According to the Spanish ministry, more than 14,000 African migrants have reached the Canary Islands so far this year.
In February, the EU and Mauritania signed a €210 million agreement aimed at combating human trafficking and deterring migrant boats.
