More and more refugee boats arrive in the Canary Islands, which belong to Spain. Yesterday alone, around 1,000 refugees or migrants arrived in the archipelago in a single day. On the island of Hierro alone there were 783 people in a wooden boat, according to the Red Cross. 98 refugees arrived in Tenerife and 150 in Gran Canaria.
80 percent increase over the previous year
Between January 1 and October 15 this year, the Canary Islands welcomed 23,537 people, an increase of 80 percent compared to the same period last year. The seven Atlantic islands have become the main destination for refugees from Senegal and other African countries trying to reach Spain. Others try to reach mainland Spain via the Mediterranean.
Calmer weather at sea in September, October and sometimes November usually results in an increase in arrivals. According to the EU border agency Frontex, political instability in Senegal was also a “push factor” that led people to leave the country via the West African route.