Helena Maleno, spokesperson of the Spanish non-governmental organization “Caminando Fronteras” (Walking borders), which works to help immigrants, told Reuters that more than 300 irregular migrants who came from Senegal to Spain’s Canary Islands 15 days ago. He said that 3 boats carrying him were lost in the Atlantic Ocean.
THEY ARE CONCERNED ABOUT THEIR LIVES
Maleno shared the information that there were about 200 irregular migrants on one of the boats, 65 and 60 on the other two boats, which allegedly departed from the shores of the Kafountine region in southern Senegal 15 days ago. A spokesperson for the Spanish NGO noted that families are concerned about the lives of missing irregular migrants.
MOST USED ROUTES
While irregular migration from the North African coasts to Spain’s Canary Islands has been one of the most used routes in recent years, it is observed that the flow here is even higher, especially in summer.
According to data from the United Nations International Organization for Migration, at least 559 irregular migrants, 22 of them children, died while trying to reach the Canary Islands in 2022. According to Caminando Fronteras, the number of irregular migrants who lost their lives on this route last year was recorded as 1784. (AA)