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The migrants, many of whom were refugees, spent 25 days stranded on a boat from The Gambia headed for Spain\u2019s Canary Islands<\/strong>, highlighting the dangerous nature of this sea route.<\/p>\n Between 14 and 18 July, UNHCR, national authorities and humanitarian partners were present at three disembarkations which brought 387 people safely ashore<\/strong>.<\/p>\n Rescue efforts culminated in an operation on 18 July where teams found 38 survivors and 143 dead or missing.<\/p>\n Among the survivors that day were two children who lost their entire families at sea<\/strong>.<\/p>\n The Atlantic route between the West African mainland and the Canary Islands is one of the world\u2019s deadliest sea corridors due to long distances, unpredictable ocean conditions, unseaworthy overcrowded boats and limited access to timely rescue, according to UNHCR.<\/p>\n \u201cThe incidents highlight the persistent risks faced by refugees and migrants attempting to reach Europe<\/strong>, many of whom are embarking over 2,000 km away from their intended destination,\u201d the agency wrote in\u00a0a press release on Tuesday.<\/p>\n Arrivals to the Canary Islands dropped by 61 per cent this year compared to the first half of 2025, with 4,400 arrivals by 15 July. Similarly, arrivals to Europe by sea on the major routes dropped from 65,407 last year to more than 40,000 this year.<\/p>\nRefugees face dangerous conditions<\/strong><\/h2>\n