Baby Girl Born on Migrant Dinghy Rescued in the Canary Islands

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A baby girl was born aboard a crowded migrant dinghy on its way to the Canary Islands, showcasing the perilous conditions faced by individuals seeking refuge. The small boat was carrying 60 people, including 14 women and four children, when it embarked from Tan-Tan, a province in Morocco, over 130 nautical miles away.

Photographs depict the moment after the birth, with the infant laying on her mother's lap as fellow passengers offered assistance. Spanish coastguard captain Domingo Trujillo confirmed that the baby was alive and in good health when rescuers arrived. Fellow passengers had already cut the umbilical cord, and the crew was able to check and wrap the newborn for the remainder of the journey.

Following their rescue, both mother and child were taken to Molina Orosa University Hospital in Lanzarote for medical evaluations and treatment with antibiotics. According to Dr. Maria Sabalich, the pair are currently healthy and still hospitalized but are expected to be moved to a humanitarian center for migrants after discharge. Officials indicated they will likely be relocated to another reception center for mothers and children within the Canary Islands.

The incident underscores the ongoing humanitarian crisis, as thousands of migrants attempt the dangerous crossing from Africa to the Spanish Canary Islands each year. In 2024 alone, nearly 10,000 migrants perished on this route, highlighting the urgent need for safe migration pathways.

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