BANJUL, Dec 9 (NNN-AGENCIES) — Gambian President Adama Barrow has pledged to punish human traffickers following the deaths of dozens people who drowned this week when their boat attempting to reach Europe capsized off Mauritania.
“To lose 60 young lives at sea is a national tragedy and a matter of grave concern to my government,” Barrow said in televised remarks.
“A full police investigation has been launched to get to the bottom of this serious national disaster. The culprits will be prosecuted according to law”, he added.
At least 62 people drowned off the Mauritanian coast on Wednesday when the boat carrying them to Spain’s Canary Islands hit a rock – the largest known loss of life along the so-called western migration route this year, according to the International Organization for Migration (IOM).
More than 80 survived the disaster by swimming ashore to Mauritania.
During his televised comments, Barrow said funds had been sent to Mauritania to cater to the immediate needs of the survivors admitted to hospital and to finance their repatriation.
He also pledged to “fast track prosecution of cases involving human trafficking.
“Law enforcement officials are also instructed to increase surveillance and arrest… criminals involved in human trafficking”, he said.
Migrant passages along the route from West African countries to the Canary Islands have increased recently as authorities clamp down on crossings to Europe from Libya.
Some 158 people are known to have died trying to reach the Canary Islands so far this year, according to the IOM, compared to 43 last year. — NNN-AGENCIES
