Canary Islands migrants warning as locals in tiny hotspot want action | World | News
Residents and tourists in the the Canary Island of El Hierro are increasingly alarmed by the constant arrival of migrant boats on their shores.
The once peaceful island now witnesses these landings almost daily, bringing with them a growing sense of urgency and concern.
The most recent arrival saw 56 migrants from sub-Saharan Africa stepping onto the shores, rescued by the Salvamar Adhara. This scene, though now familiar, remains jarring for locals and visitors alike.
Sergio, a visitor from Tenerife who watched the arrival with his young son, said: “It’s very different to see their arrival on TV than to see them here in person.
“It’s shocking. Something needs to be done; not only is solidarity from other communities needed, but Europe also needs to get involved to put a stop to this humanitarian drama.”
The increasing frequency of these arrivals has put significant pressure on local emergency services.
Francis Mendoza, the coordinator of Civil Protection in El Hierro, reported that the San Andrés reception center, which has a capacity for 800 people, is already housing around 700 migrants. With calm seas expected in the coming weeks, authorities are bracing for even more arrivals.
In just one week, over 1,000 migrants have reached El Hierro, a small island with a population of barely 11,000.
The situation is not unique to El Hierro; other Canary Islands like La Gomera, Gran Canaria, and Fuerteventura have also seen a surge in migrant landings.
Since January, around 25,000 migrants have reached the Canary coasts, with more than 3,000 arriving in July and August alone – a 19 percent surge compared to the same period last year.
Juan Carlos Lorenzo, territorial coordinator of CEAR in the Canary Islands, explained: “Mali is in a terrible conflict that forces people to leave.
“Also, Senegal has experienced some social and political upheaval which has now calmed down due to changes in political leadership but situations of desperation, lack of prospects, and impoverishment do not change overnight. This forces people to move and nationalities change over time.”
The president of the Canary Islands, Fernando Clavijo, has called for urgent reforms to immigration laws and more support from the central government, lamenting that the islands feel “unsupported” in handling this humanitarian crisis.
There have also been migrants coming from as far as Syria and Pakistan, with people fleeing desperate situations in search of safety and a better life.
