The Canary Islands have experienced a significant increase in migrant landings, with 1,800 individuals arriving between June 1 and June 15, 2024. This spike follows a brief period of decreased activity and has raised the total number of migrants reaching the Spanish archipelago in the Atlantic to 18,977 since the start of the year. This figure represents 78.5% of the total irregular entries into Spain during the same period, as reported by the Spanish Interior Ministry on June 17.
The latest arrivals predominantly consist of migrants from Africa, marking a resurgence after a few weeks of relative calm. The data from the interior ministry underscores the ongoing and pressing nature of migration challenges faced by the Canary Islands, which remain a critical entry point for many seeking a new life in Europe.
The situation is further highlighted by a recent report from Caminando Fronteras, an NGO dedicated to rescue operations along migration routes between Africa and Spain. The organization reported that at least 5,054 people have died or gone missing while attempting these perilous crossings since the beginning of 2024. This number, which includes 4,808 individuals aiming to reach the Canary Islands, represents a significant increase from the previous year. The victims included 154 women and 50 children. Helena Maleno, the coordinator of Caminando Fronteras’ research, emphasized the urgency of prioritizing sea rescue protocols and the protection of the right to life over stringent immigration control measures.
From January to May 2024, a total of 20,854 migrants have arrived in Spain, marking a 136.7% increase compared to the same period in the previous year. This surge in numbers underscores the continuous and escalating pressures of migration faced by Spain.
However, despite the influx, Spain remains at the bottom of the European Union ranking for accepted asylum requests. According to the Spanish Commission for Refugee Aid (CEAR), only 12% of asylum applications were accepted in 2023. This places Spain behind other major EU countries like Germany and France in terms of both the number of applications received and the percentage of accepted requests. The EU average for accepted protection requests stands at 41.8%, highlighting the stark contrast with Spain’s acceptance rate. CEAR’s annual report points to significant issues in Spain’s asylum process, including the limited and unpredictable availability of appointments for submitting applications.
As migrant arrivals continue to rise, the situation underscores the urgent need for comprehensive and humane approaches to managing migration and asylum processes in Spain and across the EU.