The International Organization for Migration (IOM) and UNHCR, the UN Refugee Agency, say the deaths of 47 people who were onboard a boat heading to the Canary Islands from North Africa’s Atlantic coast highlights the urgent need for more support to prevent further tragedies at sea.   

This was disclosed in a statement jointly signed by Nicolas Hochart and Joséphine Lebas-Joly of IOM and UNHCR respectively. 

Usman Umar tells us more: