More than 1,700 people arrived on Spain's Canary Islands over the Christmas period, with over 500 people rescued at sea. In 2024, the islands have seen more than 45,000 migrants arrive, with many fleeing conflict and instability across Africa.
More than 1,700 irregular migrants reached Spain's Canary Islands over the Christmas holidays, over 500 of whom needed rescue at sea, according to a report by Spanish state broadcaster TVE on Sunday (December 29).
In 2024, the Atlantic islands, which are located roughly 100 kilometers from the North African coast at their closest point, have recorded at total of over 45,000 arrivals, the daily El Mundo newspaper reported, citing data from local government authorities.
Between Tuesday and Saturday alone, 28 boats carrying migrants landed on the islands of Gran Canaria, Lanzarote, and El Hierro.
The Spanish aid organization Caminando Fronteras said it particularly noted an increase in boats departing from Mauritania's coastline.
The group estimates that more than 9,700 people, many of them children and young adults, have died attempting the journey. The diversity of migrants' countries of origin has also expanded, reflecting growing conflicts across Africa and beyond.
Lack of support for refugee accommodation
Local authorities in the Canary Islands have meanwhile expressed a sense of feeling overwhelmed by these irregular migrant arrivals.
They have criticized Spain's central government in Madrid for providing insufficient support in accommodating the arrivals or redistributing them to other regions.
Canary Islands President Fernando Clavijo Batlle recently urged Magnus Brunner, the European Union's new migration commissioner, to prioritize the islands for EU funding under the bloc's Migration and Asylum Pact.
Clavijo also invited Brunner to visit the islands to witness the challenges first-hand.
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Nearly 70 migrants perish in boat tragedy en route to Spain
Earlier in December, nearly 70 migrants lost their lives when their boat sank during an attempt to reach Spain, according to Mali's Minister in charge of Malians living abroad.
In a statement issued on December 26, Minister Mossa Ag Attaher said that the vessel, which had departed on December 19, carried 80 people. Only 11 are known to have survived the disaster, according to the Ministry.
Among the few survivors, nine were identified as Malian nationals. Another 25 young Malians were confirmed among the deceased, the minister stated.
Several of the Malian victims originated from the Kayes region in western Mali, according to Doulaye Keita, an adviser to the ministry, as reported by news agency Associated Press (AP).
The Atlantic migration route from West Africa to Spain's Canary Islands remains one of the most dangerous in the world. The archipelago, situated closer to Africa than mainland Spain, is often viewed as a gateway to continental Europe.
Many migrants embarking on this perilous journey hail from Mali, Senegal, Mauritania, and other West African nations, driven by the pursuit of security, economic opportunities, or escape from violence and political instability.
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With DPA and AP