The arrival of immigrants to the Canary Islands does not stop in a week that is on its way to shattering all records. After a Friday in which 1,231 people arrived on the islands aboard 13 cayucos to three islands (El Hierro, Gran Canaria and Tenerife), today, Saturday, three new boats have landed with 153 people. So far this week, in 6 days, there have been more than 3,100 arrivals.
The island of El Hierro has been the destination of six out of ten immigrants, in a non-stop of arrivals, which has generated difficult situations in the attention at the foot of the dock. The agile referrals that are being carried out, with the transfer of immigrants within a period of 24 hours to centers on other islands, have made it possible to respond. Today, 548 people were transferred on a ship chartered by the State from this island to Tenerife, in order to make room for those who may arrive in the next few hours.
However, the most regrettable image of the last few hours was recorded on Friday night at the Los Cristianos dock, south of Tenerife. About 200 immigrants from the last boat that was located that day had to sleep on the cold and hard floor of the Los Cristianos dock because there were no places available in the primary care centers. They are housed in these devices for the first 72 hours, while the police affiliation procedures are carried out. Afterwards, they go to reception centers.
There are two on the island, with capacity for just over 1,200 people. According to sources from the Ministry of Inclusion, Tenerife still has reception capacity but on Friday the first care services collapsed, which left the immigrants lying on the dock, according to the Efe agency.
The image was reminiscent of the situation that occurred in 2020 in the port of Arguineguín (Gran Canaria), when there was a strong migratory surge and Covid prevented transfers to the peninsula. Then, more than 2,000 people were crowded for days on the Gran Canaria dock.
The President of the Government of the Canary Islands, Fernando Clavijo, today regretted having to see this type of images again and reiterated his criticism of the State's apathy towards the islands regarding immigration. "While the State waits in the offices of Madrid to act in the Canary Islands 'when it is deemed necessary', the archipelago assists helplessly in outrageous situations that are reminiscent of the Arguineguín dock of shame."
Clavijo was referring to the director of Maritime Rescue, José Luis García, who on Friday indicated that the Canarian resources are sufficient and there is no need to reinforce the squads. The day before, Clavijo had accused the Government of being “blind, deaf and dumb” in the face of the humanitarian drama.
