In an insightful interview with El País, Mohammed Ouhemmou, a researcher at Ibn Zohr University in Agadir, Morocco, advocates for the term "necrocorredor" to describe the perilous migration route between Africa and the Canary Islands. This moniker reflects the alarming mortality rate along this path, which Ouhemmou attributes to the inadequacies of public policy intended to safeguard lives. Instead, he posits that these policies often serve to control migration rather than protect the migrants risking their lives on these treacherous journeys.

Ouhemmou provides stark statistics to support his argument, citing a report from the organization Caminando Fronteras, which revealed that 1,906 migrant deaths occurred in 2025 alone on this route. He emphasizes that such high mortality rates among migrants should prompt urgent discussions about the effectiveness and humanity of public migration policies. According to Ouhemmou, the focus should shift from attempting to restrict migration to understanding the factors driving people to leave their homes in search of safety and opportunity.

As a member of the Euro-Mediterranean Network for Migration Research, Ouhemmou's insights contribute to a broader dialogue about migration in the region, particularly in Europe and North Africa. His stance highlights the desperate need for more compassionate and effective public policy that considers the realities faced by migrants, rather than framing their journeys as a mere issue of legality or security. By drawing attention to these deaths and the underlying causes, Ouhemmou calls for a reframing of the conversation around migration in order to foster understanding and positive action.