The number of illegal migrants in the Canary Islands has increased dramatically over the year. Between January 1 and August 15, a total of 22,304 illegal boat refugees reached the archipelago in the Atlantic Ocean. This is an increase of 126 percent compared to the same period last year.
Earlier this week, Fernando Clavijo sounded the alarm. “This cannot continue. We have long exceeded our limits and capacities,” the regional president of the Canary Islands made clear. He was referring to the latest wave of refugees currently flooding the Spanish holiday islands off the west coast of Africa. The situation is “dramatic.”
Most African boat refugees are now embarking on the perilous sea refugee route across the Atlantic Ocean from southern states such as Gambia, Senegal and Mauritania, after the European Union reached a new agreement with Morocco on greater control over coastal waters.
With terrible consequences: “The sea route is considerably longer at over 1,000 kilometres and therefore more dangerous than from the Moroccan coast,” explains Helena Maleno of the Spanish refugee aid organisation Caminando Fronteras.
“It is the most dangerous sea refugee route in the world”
Just twelve days ago, an African refugee boat from Mauritania carrying fourteen skeletons was discovered on a beach in the Dominican Republic in the Caribbean, missing the Canary Islands. “It is the most dangerous maritime refugee route in the world.”
In a bid to stem the influx of refugees from West African countries, Spanish Socialist Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez (PSOE) will travel to Mauritania, Gambia and Senegal next week for crisis talks. But before that, he wants to meet Canary Islands regional president Clavijo on the island of La Palma on Friday and get his own impression of the situation on the ground.
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.
