A ship with 57 migrants onboard arrives at La Restinga port on the Canary island of El Hierro, on September 14, 2024.
Antonio Sempere/AFP by way of Getty Photos
conceal caption
toggle caption
Antonio Sempere/AFP by way of Getty Photos
SEVILLE, Spain — The Atlantic migration route that connects West African nations with the Spanish Canary Islands set a brand new file in 2024, with a minimum of 46,843 arrivals to the Spanish archipelago, in keeping with yearly figures launched by Spain’s Inside Ministry. The quantity surpassed final yr’s earlier file, and represents a 17% improve.
The quantity, launched Thursday in a report from Spain’s Inside Ministry, comes regardless of continued efforts by the Spanish authorities and the European Union to handle the migration disaster. Spain and the EU have sought to supply help to international locations of origin to assist spur growth and management the departure of migrants.
Migrants typically journey greater than 1,000 miles by sea to succeed in the Canary Islands. Senegal and Mauritania are two of the commonest launching factors for migrants, who come from plenty of international locations within the African continent to flee armed battle, poverty, or lack of alternative. In 2024, a small variety of migrants from Southeast Asian international locations additionally reached the Spanish archipelago, elevating considerations that the lethal route, removed from deterring them, may very well be attracting migrants from different continents.
A member of the emergency companies carries a bit baby, a part of a bunch of 175 migrant individuals who arrived on board a ship, at Restinga port on the Canary island of El Hierro on August 18, 2024.
Antonio Sempere/AFP by way of Getty Photos
conceal caption
toggle caption
Antonio Sempere/AFP by way of Getty Photos
The Atlantic migration route is likely one of the deadliest on the planet. The Spanish help group Caminando Fronteras (Strolling Borders) assessed on a latest report that over 10,000 migrants died final yr attempting to succeed in the Canary Islands by sea.
Final yr’s improve within the variety of migrants reaching the Canary Islands was highlighted by the arrival of almost 2,000 migrants within the final days of 2024. The information of 69 migrants dying after a ship sank on Dec. 19, in keeping with Malian authorities, was a reminder of the hazard this migration route represents.
The variety of migrant arrivals within the Canary Islands has overwhelmed the native authorities, and has sparked a nationwide debate in regards to the dealing with of the greater than 5,500 minors who’re at the moment held in authorities amenities. Negotiations over the relocation of those minors to the Spanish mainland have been ongoing, however nationwide events are in a gridlock over the passage of latest laws that may decide how minors are distributed throughout the 16 different autonomous areas of Spain.
