Spain acquired 63,970 migrants and refugess who arrived by irregular routes final yr, together with 46,843 folks within the Canary Islands.
A minimum of 46,843 folks reached Spain’s Canary Islands in 2024 by the more and more lethal Atlantic migration route, the nation’s inside ministry has mentioned.
The European nation acquired 63,970 migrants who arrived by irregular routes final yr, the overwhelming majority within the Atlantic archipelago, up from 56,852 in 2023, the ministry mentioned on Thursday.
EU border company Frontex famous that irregular crossings into the bloc from January to November 2024 fell 40 p.c general however grew 19 p.c on the Atlantic route, with folks from Mali, Senegal and Morocco trying to cross.
Years of battle within the Sahel area, unemployment, and the impact of local weather change on farming communities are among the many explanation why folks try the crossing.
The Atlantic route, which incorporates departure factors in Senegal, The Gambia, Mauritania and Morocco, can also be the world’s deadliest.
Final week, not less than 69 folks, together with 25 Malians, died after a ship heading from West Africa to the Canary Islands capsized off Morocco.
A report by NGO Caminando Fronteras final month, mentioned not less than 10,457 migrants died or disappeared whereas attempting to achieve Spain by sea from January 1 to December 5, 2024.
Caminando Fronteras added that it was a 50 p.c improve from 2023 and the very best toll since its tallies started in 2007, and attributed it to using ramshackle boats, harmful waters and an absence of assets for rescues.
Migrant support group Strolling Borders additionally blamed an absence of motion or arbitrary rescues and the criminalisation of migrants for the surge in deaths at sea. The help group has accused European governments of “the prioritisation of immigration management over the correct to life”.
