Canary Islands declare migration emergency as thousands arrive in November
More than 5,300 migrants reached the Canary Islands in eight days, prompting emergency aid and inter-island transfers.
KEY POINTS
- More than 5,300 migrants arrived in the Canary Islands in eight days aboard 56 boats
- El Hierro declared a social emergency after receiving more than 8,000 people in five weeks
- The Spanish government allocated 15.18 million euros for reception centers and transfers
- About one million euros in additional aid was announced for affected sectors in La Restinga
- Clavijo called for Frontex to operate on the coasts of origin countries
More than 5,300 migrants arrived in the Canary Islands aboard 56 boats during the first eight days of November, according to provisional figures from maritime rescue and the regional government. On Saturday alone, seven boats carrying 797 people reached the coasts, with six landing on El Hierro and one on Lanzarote. One rescued boat carried 215 migrants, including ten women and four minors, and was found 16.6 kilometers off La Restinga on El Hierro.
El Hierro has received the heaviest pressure, with more than 8,000 people arriving on the island over the past five weeks. The island council, whose territory has a population of nearly 12,000, declared a social emergency on Friday because of the strain on reception, health, and police resources.
“Canarias will continue to be Europe's southern border, and Frontex should not only act in the islands but deploy directly on the coasts of origin to control the departure of cayucos.”
Authorities have begun moving migrants to other islands to ease the burden. On Saturday alone, one thousand people were transferred to Tenerife by ferry, and starting next week there will be two daily special ferry services to Tenerife and Gran Canaria.
The Spanish government declared a migration emergency in the Canary Islands and allocated 15.18 million euros for new places in state-run centers and inter-island transfers. Regional president Fernando Clavijo announced separate aid of about one million euros for the economic sectors most affected in La Restinga.
Additional funding includes one million euros to reinforce health services through the Red Cross, covering medical and nursing staff at the La Restinga dock and the temporary foreigner center in San Andrés. The government also added the Guardamar Calíope rescue vessel, bringing the number of such vessels in the Canaries to three.
Clavijo said the central government linked the increase in arrivals to sporting events in Senegal and to the start of the electoral campaign in Gambia. He called for Frontex to deploy directly on the coasts of origin countries to prevent boat departures, rather than acting only in the islands.
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