More death on the Atlantic route. According to reports by the NGO Caminando Fronteras, at least 44 migrants died on Sunday after their boat capsized off Cape Boujdour in West Africa. Helena Maleno, spokeswoman for the initiative, said that “The twelve survivors were arrested under Moroccan immigration law. There are neither rights nor piety towards the migrants.”

The bodies of seven victims were brought ashore. The Moroccan authorities, who are occupying Western Sahara, have not yet issued a statement. The boat with Western Sahara refugees on board was most likely on its way to the Canary Islands. Morocco and Spain announced last Friday that they would strengthen their "cooperation against irregular migration".

According to the Moroccan Interior Ministry, 14,700 people were apprehended on the coast in the first three months of the year. Last year, 63,120 people were prevented from leaving for Europe by the authorities. According to the Spanish Ministry of the Interior, 40,000 people made the crossing last year.

The Atlantic route is considered the deadliest escape route. According to Caminando Fronteras, 4,400 people died on the sea route to Spain last year, most of them on the Atlantic route. The number of unreported deaths is likely to be much higher.