The Gambia Red Cross Society has mobilized staff and volunteers to support ongoing recovery efforts following the tragic capsizing of a migrant boat near Jinack Kajata village in the North Bank Region on New Year’s Eve. Working in close coordination with national authorities and partner organizations, Red Cross teams are assisting with the dignified search, recovery, and repatriation of bodies from various locations along the coast and nearby areas. Emphasizing core humanitarian principles, responders are ensuring safe handling procedures, the proper use of personal protective equipment (PPE), and respectful transportation of remains to mortuaries.
The incident, which occurred around midnight on December 31, 2025, involved an overcrowded vessel carrying more than 200 irregular migrants attempting the perilous journey to Spain’s Canary Islands.
According to President Adama Barrow’s national address, at least 102 survivors have been rescued, many receiving urgent medical care for hypothermia, dehydration, and exhaustion. Seven bodies have been recovered so far, though dozens remain missing, with fears the death toll could rise as searches continue.
The Gambian Navy, emergency services, local fishermen, and volunteers launched an immediate response after the boat was found grounded on a sandbank. President Barrow described the tragedy as a “heartbreaking” and “painful reminder” of the dangers of irregular migration, vowing a full investigation and renewed government efforts to curb such journeys while creating better opportunities for youth.
The Atlantic route from West Africa to Europe remains one of the world’s deadliest migration paths, with thousands risking their lives amid economic hardships. Similar incidents in 2025 claimed hundreds of lives, underscoring the urgent need for safer alternatives.
The Red Cross’s involvement highlights the humanitarian imperative to treat the deceased with dignity, providing closure for grieving families across Gambia and neighboring countries. Operations are ongoing, with authorities appealing for calm as identification processes proceed.
Meanwhile, migration activists in The Gambia have revealed alarming figures, claiming that approximately 893 young Gambians perished in 2025 while attempting the dangerous, irregular journey to Europe, known locally as the “backway.”
At a press conference held on January 5, 2026, at the National Youth Parliament building in Kanifing, prominent activist Ebrima Drammeh, founder of the Ebrima Migration Situation Report, presented the statistics alongside Seedy Saidykhan, founder of the migrant support initiative WeMigrants, and Adrian Corish of the Africa Advisory Center.
Drammeh stated that of the 893 recorded deaths from January 1 to December 31, 2025, 840 occurred at sea, while 53 were on overland routes. “These are young, promising lives lost in pursuit of better opportunities abroad,” he said, expressing deep concern.
