Last weekend, more than 1,400 refugees reached the coast of the Canary Islands. The path there is considered long and dangerous. However, due to increased controls in the Mediterranean, this migration route has become more important in recent years.
As the rescue services of the Spanish archipelago announced on Sunday, a total of 1,457 people arrived on the islands in different boats between Friday evening and Sunday. According to a spokesperson, they came from countries south of the Sahara.
Record number in one boat
A wooden boat with 321 people on board landed on the island of El Hierro on Saturday, another spokeswoman for the emergency services told the AFP news agency. The public television channel TVE showed images of the arrival of the boat full of waving people in the harbor. Never before had so many people been transported by sea to the Canary Islands on one boat.
The number of refugees is increasing
According to the latest figures from the Spanish Ministry of the Interior, 23,537 migrants reached the archipelago off the west coast of North Africa between January 1 and October 15. That is 80 percent more than in the same period last year. According to media reports, 8,561 migrants arrived in the Canary Islands in the first two weeks of October, the highest number since 2006.
During a visit to the archipelago last week, Interior Minister Fernando Grande-Marlaska attributed the “resurgence” in the number of migrants to a “destabilization of the Sahel region.”
Spain was concerned
Spain has expressed concern about the increase in irregular migration this year. The eurozone has already stated that it cannot handle the situation without the help of the EU. The Atlantic migration route to the Canary Islands, typically used by migrants from sub-Saharan Africa, is one of the deadliest in the world.
Source: Krone
I am Wallace Jones, an experienced journalist. I specialize in writing for the world section of Today Times Live. With over a decade of experience, I have developed an eye for detail when it comes to reporting on local and global stories. My passion lies in uncovering the truth through my investigative skills and creating thought-provoking content that resonates with readers worldwide.
