This is really heartbreaking: 144 people have died or gone missing at sea while chasing a better life in Europe.

It is another sad story from the sea, and this one is really heavy.

The UN refugee agency has said at least 144 people have died or gone missing off the coast of Mauritania while trying to cross to Europe, cbinews.tv reports.

According to UNHCR, the figure came from three different rescue operations that happened between 14th and 18th July.

The worst of it was a single boat that left Bufaloto in The Gambia. The boat spent 25 days stranded at sea before help finally came on 18th July. By the time it was rescued and taken to Nouadhibou in Mauritania, it was carrying dead bodies and only 38 survivors.

UNHCR officials were on the ground during the disembarkation to support the survivors.

Spokesperson Matt Saltmarsh, speaking at a UN briefing in Geneva, said, "Among the survivors of that ship were two children who have lost all their family members during the journey, and they are recovering in hospital."

He said it is still not clear if the victims drowned or died from hunger, thirst or other causes. All the victims were said to be from sub-Saharan African countries.

The agency also said another person was already dead when a second vessel arrived in Mauritania on 14th July.

In all, 387 people survived the three rescue operations.

So far in 2026 alone, 17 disembarkations have been recorded in Nouadhibou and Nouakchott, with 2,147 people rescued.

UN data shows that arrivals to Europe by sea have actually dropped by more than a third this year, just over 40,000 compared to 65,407 in the first half of 2025. But the number of people dying or disappearing on the way is still alarmingly high.

The UNHCR is now calling for more access to education and labour opportunities so people do not have to risk their lives on these dangerous sea crossings.

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