Over 500 migrants saved near the Canary Islands.

Displaced Individuals - Over 500 migrants saved near the Canary Islands.

Rescue crews from Spain have managed to rescue hundreds of migrants within a brief time span who had found themselves in peril around the Canary Islands. They managed to rescue a total of 516 refugees across five separate vessels, with some reports indicating that these efforts continued throughout the night.

Among those saved were numerous women, children, and infants hailing primarily from African nations south of the Sahara. The migrants were brought to the islands of Tenerife, Gran Canaria, and El Hierro due to their condition worsening, with many of them being reported as critical upon arrival. Some speculate that at least ten to twelve individuals lost their lives during their perilous journey across the Atlantic, as their bodies were said to have been thrown overboard. What's more, a woman was said to have given birth during this treacherous journey.

Rising numbers of refugees near the Canary Islands

For quite some time now, a larger number of refugee vessels have been arriving at the Canaries, about 100 kilometers off the northwest coast of Africa. There has been a noticeable surge in migration along this route since fall 2022. This surge in migration could be partially attributed to the crisis unfolding in Senegal. As of late, the Interior Ministry in Madrid reports almost 21,000 migrants who set sail for Spain in the first five months of this year. This number represents a striking increase of 136% in comparison to the previous year.

Fernando Clavijo, the regional president, has demanded immediate action from Spain and Europe yet again. He lamented that "the situation isn't fair" and that this is not only unfair to those fleeing from starvation and death, but also to the Canary Islands which are enduring the entire strain of Europe's southern border.

Sadly, countless lives lost in pursuit of a better life

According to the well-respected Spanish humanitarian group, Caminando Fronteras, a shocking 6,618 migrants perished trying to reach Spain by sea in the recent past. This terrible statistic represents an increase of 177% when compared to the 2022 figures where 2,390 casualties were documented. An astounding 6,007 of these deaths occurred in transit from West Africa to the Canaries. Furthermore, 611 fatalities were recorded on what's known as the Mediterranean route and through the Strait of Gibraltar.

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1. The distress at sea in the Atlantic near the Canary Islands has become a significant concern for operational forces in Europe, including Spain.
2. Many refugees who have lost their lives during their perilous journey towards Europe have been found in the waters surrounding Tenerife, a major island in the Canary Islands.
3. The EU has been urged by the regional president of the Canary Islands, Fernando Clavijo, to take immediate action to address the increasing number of migrants arriving from Africa towards the Sahara and Tenerife.
4. The Senegalese crisis has reportedly contributed to the rise in refugee vessels heading towards the Canary Islands, with Madrid's Interior Ministry reporting over 21,000 migrants who set sail for Spain this year.
5. A large number of migrants from African nations south of the Sahara, including Senegal, have been rescued off the Canary Islands, with women and children making up a significant proportion of those saved.
6. Spanish rescue crews have been working around the clock to save these distressed individuals, bringing them to islands like Gran Canaria, El Hierro, and Tenerife.
7. EU leaders have faced criticism for not doing enough to address the migration crisis, with some calling for a more humane approach to handling the influx of refugees arriving on Spanish shores.
8. The woman who gave birth during the dangerous journey across the Atlantic was one of multiple women among the refugees saved near the Canary Islands, highlighting the plight of women and children fleeing conflict and poverty in Africa.
9. The Spanish humanitarian group Caminando Fronteras has reported that thousands of migrants have lost their lives trying to reach Europe by sea, with 6,618 documented fatalities in the recent past.
10. Madrid and the EU have been urged to offer more support to migrants and refugees arriving in Spain, as well as to address the root causes of forced migration in Africa, including poverty, conflict, and political instability.

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