Dakar – Since 2019, the number of irregular migrants leaving West African coasts, including Senegalese coasts, to head for the Spanish Canary Islands has been increasing. Between January and August 2022, 10,637 migrants arrived irregularly in the Canary Islands. Crossing the Atlantic Ocean from the West African coast to the Canary Islands is considered the deadliest route to Europe. With the growth of irregular crossings, incidents are also increasing along the West African coast. Many migrants crossing the Atlantic Ocean are in vulnerable situations and need protection, support, and assistance upon arrival.

In light of this situation, the International Organization for Migration (IOM), in partnership with the Government of Senegal through the General Directorate for Support to Senegalese Abroad (Direction générale d’Appui aux Sénégalais de l’extérieur -DGASE) and the Inter-Ministerial Committee to Combat Irregular Migration (Comité Interministériel de Lutte contre l’Émigration clandestine -CILEC), has developed the capacity-building project to enable the Government of Senegal to provide gender-sensitive and rights-based assistance and protection to vulnerable migrants upon their arrival.

This initiative was launched on 21 September 2022 in Dakar. On the occasion of this ceremony, IOM’s Chief of Mission in Senegal, Valéria Falaschi, reminded the audience that “any person rescued at sea must be promptly supported and brought to a place where their safety is no longer threatened and where their basic needs such as food, shelter and medical needs can be met, taking into account their particular circumstances”. Indeed, protection of migrants rescued at sea continues after their rescue as recommended by the International Maritime Organization. In this regard, IOM Senegal’s Chief of Mission called on the Government of Senegal to work further in this direction by stressing that “IOM encourages the Senegalese State to consider the need to further promote, in accordance with international law, the obligation to provide migrants rescued at sea with a safe place to stay by creating the conditions to respect their human rights and guarantee their access to economic, social and cultural rights.”

The Permanent Secretary of the CILEC, Bocar Ly, welcomed and encouraged the collaboration between Senegalese authorities, International Organization for Migration in Senegal and all relevant stakeholders concerned about better care for migrants rescued at sea. He said: “Following the launch of this IOM project which strengthens the Senegalese government’s capacity, the CILEC will have a strategy and an action plan to tackle the shortcomings, including the immediate and urgent care of migrants in distress.”

Following the speeches, working group bringing together experts from various fields made it possible to formulate recommendations to the Project Steering Committee. These include the harmonization of reporting and collection systems, establishment of a legal framework specific to emergencies, involvement of fire brigade services, and mapping of support structures at the coastal level.

This project is financed by IOM Development Fund.

For more information, please contact: Adama Dia, IOM Senegal Communications Unit, adia@iom.int and/or Cheikh Mbacké Sène, Project Officer, cmsene@iom.int.