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Starting Anew: Mamadou JARRA Returns Thanks to IOM
22 July 2024 was another tragic day for migrants off the coast of Mauritania. All day long, the coastguards were searching for survivors in the hope of saving lives after a pirogue wrecked at sea with several hundred migrants. Mamadou JARRA, a survivor of this tragic event, says:
“We were many in this pirogue, which had two levels. I estimate that we were around 250, all piled on top of each other,” he says with emotion. “Three days after leaving The Gambia, none of us thought we’d get out of there alive; we could hear the wood of the pirogue creaking under our legs, everyone was terrified”, he adds.
After a week at sea, Mamadou JARRA and the others on board were rescued by the Mauritanian coastguards near Nouakchott coast: “When we sighted the shore, everyone panicked, and we all ended up on one side of the pirogue, which caused the accident and drowning of more than half the boat,” he says. “I lost two of my relatives in the panic, and the body of one of them is still missing,” he adds.
Far from being an isolated case, Mamadou Jarra and his companions are among the thousands of people who disembark every year on the Mauritanian coast, in the hope of reaching the Canary Islands, synonymous with a better life for many young people who have embarked on the perilous Atlantic route.
There are many reasons why these migrants take this perilous journey along the Atlantic Sea route, but they all converge on a single goal: the search for a better life. “I wanted to support my parents, they’re showing signs of age, and they need support. I couldn’t stand being powerless in this situation, so I wanted to look after them,” says Mamadou. Another survivor of July 22 shipwreck adds: “I come from a very modest family. I worked as a building technician, but my income was insufficient to support my family, and that’s what motivated my decision.”
Mamadou worked as a businessman, earning a decent living by importing goods which he then sold at the local markets in his town. It was under pressure and influence from those around him that he decided to migrate.
“I was led to believe that Europe would offer me better opportunities. Someone told me about a pirogue ready to set sail, and I invested all my savings in the hope of making the trip a success,” he confides.
After being rescued by the Mauritanian coastguard, IOM’s protection teams were in the field to assist the survivors. They worked alongside the coastguards to identify and refer medical cases to hospitals, as well as providing direct assistance. At the end of this traumatic episode, the survivors, including Mamadou Jarra, were provided with accommodation pending their voluntary return to their country of origin.
The lack of adequate economic opportunities in countries of origin and political instability in the sub-region are factors that compound migration flows in the West and Central African region. Mauritania, due to its strategic geographical location on the Atlantic coast, is often used as a transit point by migrants, including those trying to reach the Canary Islands or Europe.
In this context, IOM continues to assist disembarked migrants through direct assistance and support for voluntary return, and through the Migrant Protection, Return and Reintegration Programme (MPRR-SSA) funded by the European Union, covering 16 countries in sub-Saharan Africa, which has enabled Mamadou and 43 of his compatriots to return to their country of origin in safety and dignity. “Unfortunately, I sold all my goods and spent all my savings on this trip, but I’m happy to have this new chance to start anew,” says Mamadou.
Story written by Kalidou Diagana, IOM Mauritania
