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Introduction <p>Irregular migrants from various African countries risk their lives traveling by sea to Europe. These migrants pay from personal and family resources to travel using unsafe small boats which can capsize on their way, resulting in disaster. This study assesses the demographic characteristics and clinical condition of admitted survivors of a capsized boat carrying such migrants from The Gambia. The migrant boat started its journey from the Jinack Island off the Atlantic Ocean coast of The Gambia in the evening of the 31st December 2025 and capsized in Gambian waters in the early hours of the 1st January 2026.</p> Method <p>This retrospective descriptive hospital study was conducted at Edward Francis Small Teaching Hospital (EFSTH), Banjul, from the 1st January to 12th January 2026. All survivors admitted at EFSTH after rescue from the capsized boat were recruited into the study. Data was collected on their demographic characteristics and clinical condition and analyzed using STATA/SE 14.2 and simple proportion was calculated for discrete variables.</p> Results <p>One hundred and seventeen survivors were accounted for after the migrant boat capsized. Out of this, 44 (37.6%) survivors were admitted at the EFSTH. The proportion of females admitted amongst the total female survivors was higher compared to the male (80.7% vs. 25.3%). The mean age of the admitted patients was 23.9 years (SD 6.5) and the majority 23 (52.3%) were within the youth age group. There was one child (2.2%) and 8 (18.2%) were within the adolescent age group (10–19 yrs). The majority 23 (52.3%) of the patients were male. Gambians accounted for 23 (52.3%); other nationalities included Senegalese 9 (42.8%), Guineans 8 (38.1%) and Malians 2 (9.5%). Trauma-related minor injuries were the most common 14 (31.8%) clinical condition. Other complications related to drowning or near- drowning were hypothermia 6 (13.6%) and pulmonary oedema 2 (4.5%). All patients were discharged and there were no mortalities.</p> Conclusion <p>This study has provided an insight into the high risk groups affected and most common clinical conditions related to a capsized migrant boat. It highlights the extreme vulnerability of children, women and young adults who undertake the hazardous migration across the Atlantic. The study will help countries to anticipate and prepare better emergency response in future similar disasters.</p>

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Demographic characteristics and clinical conditions of admitted survivors of a capsized migrant boat in the Gambia

  • 期刊论文

  • 出版模式：

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  • 发表日期：

    2026年7月22日

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  • Sheikh Omar Bittaye,
  • Ebrima Bah,
  • Kelvin Thomas,
  • Musa Cham,
  • Maimuna Danso,
  • Mariam Jaw,
  • Saikou Jabbie,
  • Omar Cham,
  • Kajali Camara,
  • Baboucarr Sowe,
  • Lamin ES Jaiteh,
  • Lamin BA Jaiteh,
  • Lucky Onofa,
  • Ousman Sanyang,
  • Lamin Saidyfaye,
  • Abdoulie Keita,
  • Mustapha Bittaye,
  • Ousman Nyan

摘要

Introduction

Irregular migrants from various African countries risk their lives traveling by sea to Europe. These migrants pay from personal and family resources to travel using unsafe small boats which can capsize on their way, resulting in disaster. This study assesses the demographic characteristics and clinical condition of admitted survivors of a capsized boat carrying such migrants from The Gambia. The migrant boat started its journey from the Jinack Island off the Atlantic Ocean coast of The Gambia in the evening of the 31st December 2025 and capsized in Gambian waters in the early hours of the 1st January 2026.

Method

This retrospective descriptive hospital study was conducted at Edward Francis Small Teaching Hospital (EFSTH), Banjul, from the 1st January to 12th January 2026. All survivors admitted at EFSTH after rescue from the capsized boat were recruited into the study. Data was collected on their demographic characteristics and clinical condition and analyzed using STATA/SE 14.2 and simple proportion was calculated for discrete variables.

Results

One hundred and seventeen survivors were accounted for after the migrant boat capsized. Out of this, 44 (37.6%) survivors were admitted at the EFSTH. The proportion of females admitted amongst the total female survivors was higher compared to the male (80.7% vs. 25.3%). The mean age of the admitted patients was 23.9 years (SD 6.5) and the majority 23 (52.3%) were within the youth age group. There was one child (2.2%) and 8 (18.2%) were within the adolescent age group (10–19 yrs). The majority 23 (52.3%) of the patients were male. Gambians accounted for 23 (52.3%); other nationalities included Senegalese 9 (42.8%), Guineans 8 (38.1%) and Malians 2 (9.5%). Trauma-related minor injuries were the most common 14 (31.8%) clinical condition. Other complications related to drowning or near- drowning were hypothermia 6 (13.6%) and pulmonary oedema 2 (4.5%). All patients were discharged and there were no mortalities.

Conclusion

This study has provided an insight into the high risk groups affected and most common clinical conditions related to a capsized migrant boat. It highlights the extreme vulnerability of children, women and young adults who undertake the hazardous migration across the Atlantic. The study will help countries to anticipate and prepare better emergency response in future similar disasters.