144 dead or missing off Mauritania trying to reach Europe, UN agency says

144 dead or missing off Mauritania trying to reach Europe, UN agency saysAt least 144 migrants and refugees have been reported dead or missing off the coast of Mauritania after attempting the dangerous sea journey to Europe, Reuters reported citing the UN refugee agency (UNHCR) on Tuesday.The deaths were linked to three rescue operations carried out off Mauritania's coast between July 14 and July 18. UNHCR said 387 people survived the rescues, while one of the incidents turned into one of the deadliest recorded on the route this year. According to the agency, a boat that departed from Bufaloto in Gambia was rescued on July 18 after drifting at sea for 25 days. Of those on board, 143 people had died by the time the vessel reached Mauritania. Rescue teams recovered the bodies and assisted 38