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The number of boat refugees from North and West Africa reaching the Spanish archipelago via the Atlantic Ocean has risen sharply this year. Since January about 17,000 migrants have managed to reach the islands. An earlier peak was in 2006, when more than 30,000 migrants arrived.
This weekend it involved 1275 people spread over 42 wooden boats. Drought, poverty, unemployment, violence and the corona pandemic are often the reasons for making the dangerous journey by sea to Europe. Many of them depart from Morocco and Mauritania. Part of it also departs from Senegal, more than 1500 kilometers away.
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Employees of the Red Cross perform a medical check on a migrant.
Ⓒ ANP / HH
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Coronatest
Most migrants are taken to the port of Arguineguin in Gran Canaria for a corona test and registration. Almost 2000 people live in an improvised tent camp around that port. On Saturday, a demonstration was held in Gran Canaria against the appalling conditions in the camp.
After registration, the migrants stay in vacant hotels, but the tourism sector is not happy about that. The government in Madrid announced ten days ago that it was closing the camp at the port and opening a residence center, but has not yet started.
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