Sea rescue This Wednesday he saved nearly 500 migrants who were trying to reach the Canary Islands on board nine boats and canoes in a restless night. In Lanzarote alone, 261 people arrived.
This situation coincides with the presence in the Canary Islands of the Vice-President of the European Commission, Margaritis Schinaswho travelled to Tenerife at the request of President Fernando Clavijo to learn about the migratory pressure the islands are experiencing and how minors are being cared for.
There he announced an additional action plan by which they will be assigned to the Canary Islands 14 million euros and the exceptional use of the European Regional Development Fund (FEDER) to respond to the migration emergency.
This plan also offers the possibility of “strengthening the protection of our external border through the Canary Islands” with joint operations with the agency Frontex, and increase assistance from the European Asylum Agency to manage assistance to unaccompanied minors.
Schinas launched a message of “unity and solidarity with the Canary Islands and Spain” and proclaimed: “In the Canaries, you are not alone, Europe is at your side.”
500 migrants in one night
Of the 500 migrants who arrived on the islands in a single night, at least thirty were women and there are 15 minors, although the figures are still provisional, since this Wednesday morning, a good number of people are still being rescued at the dock of Arrecife (Lanzarote) and another rescue is underway in the waters near the same island, according to Efe.
The first operation in Lanzarote took place on Tuesday around 10:00 p.m., after a radar from the coastal surveillance system detected a boat nearby. 16 kilometers north of the island. On board were 40 people of Maghreb origin (30 men, eight women and two children), who arrived ashore with the Salvamar Al Nair after midnight.
At the same time, the larger capacity Guardamar Talía was also mobilised from Lanzarote, as more warnings were received pneumatic possible in the area, up to five, some of them made by telephone by the people who were there.
In the early hours of the morning, La Talía rescued 221 people on board four boats, most of them sub-Saharan: one group of 70 people, another of 51 people, a third of 50 people and a fourth of 51 people.
At least 15 minors have arrived in the Canary Islands in the last few hours.
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And the Guardamar Calíope is also sailing towards La Restinga at the moment, after rescuing this morning another canoe located 22 kilometers from El Hierro with 57 other people, including three women and four minors.
Finally, another rescue is underway: a boat located approximately 45 kilometers from Lanzarote towards which the Salvamar Al Nair is already heading from Arrecife and on which there is still no data.
Schinas goes to the Canary Islands
All these rescues coincide with the presence on the islands of Margaritis Schinas. This Wednesday it will be at Tenerife, where he will visit with President Clavijo a reception center for unaccompanied minors. On Thursday, his agenda includes a visit to a reception center on the island of El Hierro.
The aim of this visit is to reaffirm the European Union solidarity with the Spanish population and, in particular, with the Canary Islands, which are at the forefront in managing migration.
Furthermore, Schinas intends to confirm the EU’s continued commitment to supporting Spain and the Canary Islands in the face of the increase in irregular migrant arrivals, both in operational and financial terms.
The visit will also be an opportunity to discuss how the European Union can continue to support local and national authorities in managing this phenomenon, by fostering a stronger dialogue with key partner countries.
