More than 1,000 migrants have been rescued off the coast of West Africa after attempting the perilous Atlantic migration route to Europe, Doctors Without Borders (MSF) has reported.

The humanitarian organisation said 1,046 people were rescued in a single week while travelling in seven boats that had departed The Gambia and were heading towards Spain’s Canary Islands.

According to MSF, the boats became stranded at sea before the migrants were intercepted during the last week of August. They were subsequently taken to Nouadhibou in Mauritania and the cities of Rosso and Dakar in Senegal.

Thousands of mostly young migrants attempt the dangerous Atlantic route each year, often travelling in overcrowded and poorly maintained boats in the hope of reaching Europe through the Canary Islands.

Many make the journey while fleeing poverty and difficult living conditions, turning to irregular migration routes as European countries have tightened border controls and significantly restricted visa access.

MSF said many of those rescued were experiencing serious health problems following their ordeal at sea.

The survivors reportedly suffered from extreme dehydration, unconsciousness, bone fractures, severe exhaustion, as well as skin, gastric and respiratory infections.

“The psychological impact on the survivors is profound, as many witnessed their loved ones die during the crossing”, it added.

The group included 134 women, one of whom was pregnant, and 88 minors, according to MSF.

Most of the migrants were from Senegal and The Gambia, while others came from Mali, Guinea, Ivory Coast and several other countries.

Several survivors told MSF they had experienced violence both in their countries of origin and during their journeys along the migration route.

The latest rescues highlight the continuing dangers faced by migrants attempting to cross the Atlantic in search of safety and better economic opportunities in Europe.

Despite the risks, the route remains active, with thousands continuing to attempt the journey aboard boats that can be vulnerable to mechanical problems, overcrowding and harsh sea conditions.

Russia has resumed strikes on Kyiv following the expiration of a three-day pause ordered by President Vladimir Putin, as efforts by US President Donald Trump’s administration to revive peace talks between Russia and Ukraine continue.

Ukraine’s emergency service said the renewed attacks began after the temporary halt, which coincided with a visit by Trump’s envoys, Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner, to the Russian and Ukrainian capitals over the weekend.

“Russians attacked Boryspil and Fastiv districts with drones,” the State Emergency Service of Ukraine posted on Telegram.

The Kyiv city military administration also issued an air raid alert after warning of a potential drone attack and urged residents to seek shelter.

A series of powerful explosions was heard across Kyiv early Tuesday, according to AFP journalists, as Russian forces resumed attacks on the Ukrainian capital.

The explosions triggered car alarms in parts of central Kyiv, while emergency authorities reported that buildings had been damaged in Kyiv, Boryspil and Fastiv districts. An AFP journalist also reported seeing smoke rising and a fire glowing in the distance.

The renewed attacks come shortly after US envoys Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner held discussions with Russian and Ukrainian officials.

Witkoff has described the talks as showing signs of progress, raising hopes that three-way negotiations involving the United States, Russia and Ukraine could be revived as efforts continue to find a path towards ending the war.

Russia’s state news agency TASS earlier confirmed that the three-day pause in strikes had come to an end.

The latest attacks underline the fragile nature of diplomatic efforts, with military action continuing despite renewed attempts to bring Moscow and Kyiv back to negotiations.

A devastating fire in Indonesia’s easternmost Papua region has killed 11 people, including six children, after flames swept through a market and nearby buildings on Monday.

The fire broke out shortly after midnight in Paniai, a town in Central Papua province, before rapidly spreading to several shophouses, according to local police spokesman Henry J. Manurung.

“During the inspection, officers found 11 victims who had died with burn injuries. Of the 11 victims, five of them were adults, while the other six were children,” Henry said in a statement.

The six children were between two and nine years old, he added.

The blaze lasted for more than three hours and destroyed at least 40 kiosks and houses. Firefighters deployed fire trucks and water cannons to contain the flames, but the tightly packed structures made the operation difficult.

“The intensity of the blaze and the fact that the houses and stalls were all packed tightly together made the firefighting process take quite a long time,” Henry said.

Authorities have launched an investigation to determine what caused the deadly fire.

Fatal fires are relatively common in Indonesia, where densely packed buildings and markets can make it difficult for emergency responders to control rapidly spreading flames.

In December, 22 people were killed when a fire engulfed a seven-storey office building in Central Jakarta. Police said a drone battery that exploded on the ground floor was the likely cause.

Earlier, in 2023, an explosion at a nickel-processing plant in eastern Indonesia killed at least 12 people.