The United Nations refugee agency announced Tuesday that 144 people are reported dead or missing while attempting to reach Europe from the Mauritanian coast.

The figure follows three rescue operations conducted off Mauritania from July 14 to 18, with the agency urging expanded education and employment options to reduce reliance on perilous sea journeys.

Of the total, 143 individuals perished aboard one vessel that departed Bufaloto in Gambia and was rescued July 18 following 25 days adrift at sea.

The boat arrived carrying the deceased along with 38 survivors, UNHCR noted, as staff assisted at the Nouadhibou disembarkation point.

Among the survivors were two children who lost their entire families en route and are now receiving hospital care, spokesperson Matt Saltmarsh stated during a Geneva briefing.

Details on causes of death, whether drowning, starvation, dehydration or other factors, were not immediately available.

The deceased originated from various sub-Saharan African nations, Saltmarsh added without further specifics.

Separately, one fatality occurred upon arrival of another vessel that reached Mauritania on July 14.

Three Rescue Operations Result in 387 Survivors

In total the three operations between July 14 and 18 saved 387 people, the agency reported.

Year to date in 2026, 17 landings have occurred at Nouadhibou and Nouakchott, rescuing 2,147 individuals overall.

Sea arrivals of migrants and refugees to Europe across primary routes have fallen more than one third this year to just over 40,000 from 65,407 in the first half of 2025, according to UN figures.

Despite the decline, deaths and disappearances persist at alarming rates, UNHCR emphasized.