Mogadishu, Somalia, May 31 – At least 20 Somali migrants have died in the Atlantic Ocean while attempting to reach Spain’s coastal city of Palma, authorities confirmed Friday, as growing economic despair continues to drive young Somalis to undertake dangerous journeys.
Only two survivors were rescued from a boat carrying more than twenty people, all of whom were fleeing rampant unemployment and limited opportunities in Somalia, according to Spanish media.
The victims are reported to have come from Somalia’s Puntland and SSC-Khatumo regions. The overloaded boat was adrift for several days before being located by rescue teams.
Years of economic hardship, poor governance, and lack of justice in the country’s limited employment sector have led to a surge in irregular migration. Many Somali youth have expressed hopelessness about their future in the country, with increasing numbers risking their lives to reach Europe.
Former Somali President Mohamed Abdullahi Farmaajo extended his condolences to the victims’ families and criticized the government for “neglecting the Somali youth,” saying it had failed to create conditions for a dignified life at home.
The tragedy comes just months after a similar incident in the Indian Ocean near Madagascar, where 24 Somali migrants perished while en route to a hoped-for better life abroad.
