CANARY ISLANDS, Spain — With a staggering surge in migrants attempting to reach the Canary Islands from Africa, the Spanish Coast Guard was put to the test this week as multiple boats sank in the perilous waters between northwest Africa and Spain’s Canary Islands.
At least two fatalities were confirmed, with many more reported missing.
On Thursday, June 22, 2023, Spanish officials reported that 61 individuals were rescued and transferred to Arguineguín, a prominent port on the Canary Islands. Earlier in the day, the Coast Guard announced the rescue of an additional 54 individuals, including 46 men, seven women, and a minor near Costa Teguise.
While Reuters and CNN cite a total of 227 rescues.
“This is not just a statistic; these are human lives hanging in the balance. The increase in crossings is alarming,” remarked a Spanish Coast Guard official who wished to remain anonymous.
The Moroccan authorities played a critical role as they rescued another 24 migrants near the Canary Islands, according to reports on Wednesday. However, the bodies of a man and a child were tragically recovered.
Alarm Phone, an activist group based in Europe and North Africa, reported that at least 35 people from the boat rescued by Moroccan authorities are still missing.
The group took to Twitter to express frustration, stating, “We learned that of the ~59 people shipwrecked, only 24 people were intercepted by the Moroccan Navy, at least 35 people are still missing. Why did nobody intervene earlier?”
Helena Maleno of Caminando Fronteras, an organization advocating for migrant safety, claimed that the death toll stands at 39, including four women and a child.
The Spanish official reported to the Associated Press that an aircraft was deployed after receiving a distress call from one of the boats.
The boat reportedly showed no signs of trouble but sank shortly after. A Moroccan merchant ship was able to rescue 24 individuals onboard.
A report by The Global Initiative, a Switzerland-based think tank, reveals a significant increase in the number of migrants attempting the journey from West and North Africa to the Canary Islands, with 60,000 recorded between January 2020 and October 2022, compared to 9,500 from 2009 to 2019.
The U.N. migration agency reports that approximately 82,000 migrants have reached Europe this year, with 1,380 tragically perishing or going missing en route.
As waves lap against the shores of the Canary Islands, they bring with them both hope and despair. The increase in migration and the human toll call for a unified response from the international community.
“The sea should not be a graveyard,” said Helena Maleno, her voice breaking. “We must foster solidarity and safety for those compelled to cross these waters.”
