On average, five migrants per day died trying to reach Spain between January and June 2023, according to Caminando Fronteras. The non-governmental organization (NGO) tracks migrant deaths, in particular on routes to Spain, and aims to advocate for migrants' rights.

Among the 951 people that died in the first half of the year, there were 112 women and 49 children, according to Caminando.

The victims reportedly came from 14 different countries: Algeria, Cameroon, the Ivory Coast, The Democratic Republic of Congo, The Gambia, Ethiopia, Guiney, Mali, Morocco, Senegal, Syria, Sri Lanka, and Sudan.

Most migrant boats disappeared en route to Canaries

Caminando examined four different sea routes to Spain: to the Canary Islands, via the Alboran Sea, via Algeria, and via the Strait of Gibraltar.

The route to the Canary Islands claimed to highest number of deaths, the NGO found.

The route from western Africa to the Spanish island group across the Atlantic is known to be extremely dangerous. Extreme tides and weather, and a lack of proper navigation equipment often cause these boats to veer off course, drifting out onto the open Atlantic. Recently, around 300 people went missing after trying to cross the hundreds of miles from Senegal to the Canaries.

In the first half of 2023, 778 persons lost their lives in 28 incidents trying to reach the Canaries, according to the Caminando. An incident usually refers to the sinking of one boat.

On the Algerian route, 102 people died in eight incidents, while on the Alboran route, 21 people died in two incidents, Caminando reported. Lastly, in the Strait of Gibraltar, 50 people reporteldy died in 11 incidents.

Tracking the number of people who are reported to have died in each month, Caminando found that February and June were the deadliest months, with 237 and 332 victims.

Caminando Fronteras said that a too slow response from rescue authorities, poor rescue practices, and a lack of coordination between Spain and Morocco were among the factors to blame for the loss of lives. They argued that Spanish and Moroccan authorities were "governed by geopolitical interests tied to keeping migrations under control instead of defending the right to life."

They also voiced concern that some survivors allegedly experienced forced displacement, physical aggression, and detention, and that the bodies of many dead migrants were buried in mass graves without identification protocols in place.

Deaths and arrivals in Spain decreased

In the first six months of 2023, 12,704 persons arrived in Spain irregularly, 11.35% fewer than during the same period in 2022. That's according to the Spanish Ministry of Interior.

The number of migrant deaths en route to Spain also decreased -- but only by 3%, according to Caminando Fronteras. According to the estimates from the NGO, the number of migrants who died during the first half of last year was 978.

The number of deaths recorded by Caminando Fronteras exceeds the figures recorded by UN migration agency IOM. This may be explained at least in part by IOM taking fewer reports from migrants and migrant families into account.

According to Missing Migrants -- a project by UN migration agency IOM tracking migrant deaths -- at least 99 people died or went missing on the Western Mediterranean Route (the route from northern Africa to mainland Spain and nearby Spanish islands) so far this year. They also found that at least 176 people died so far this year trying to reach the Canaries from western Africa.