Over 500 refugees are saved by aid workers on the Canary Islands.
"The number of boats carrying refugees near the Canary Islands is growing rapidly, with authorities estimating around 21,000 individuals stranded since the start of the year. Tragically, deaths are also on the rise. Spanish rescue teams saved over 500 migrants during a nighttime operation, including many women and children.
Five boats carrying a total of 516 refugees were aided by Spanish maritime rescue services. Teams worked tirelessly through the night until Thursday to save everyone. The majority of the rescued passengers came from African nations south of the Sahara. They were transferred to the islands of Tenerife, Gran Canaria, and El Hierro. Many of these individuals were in critical condition.
The passengers aboard one of the boats reported at least ten to twelve deaths during the treacherous Atlantic crossing. Bodies were subsequently thrown overboard. A woman gave birth to a child during the journey, local newspaper 'La Provincia' and other sources claim, quoting rescue teams.
The Canary Islands, located approximately 100 kilometers off the northwest coast of Africa, have seen an influx of refugee boats for several months now. Migration along this route has skyrocketed since the fall, likely due to the political and social crisis in Senegal. Spain's Interior Ministry reported that over 21,000 migrants have arrived via sea in the first five months of the year, a 136% increase from 2021.
One regional leader, Fernando Clavijo, once again implored Spain and Europe to take urgent action. "This isn't fair," he expressed. "Neither for the people fleeing hunger and death, nor for the Canary Islands, which must carry the entire weight of Europe's southern border alone."
The Spanish aid organization Caminando Fronteras reported that at least 6,618 migrants perished trying to reach Spain by sea in the previous year. This figure was 177% higher than 2022, in which at least 2,390 casualties were reported. Over 6,007 of these deaths occurred on the West African to Canaries route. On the so-called Mediterranean route and Strait of Gibraltar, a total of 611 deaths were documented, according to Caminando Fronteras."
Image Source: https://pixabay.com/photos/rescue-crew-boat-searching-at-sea-4016316/
