The Canary Islands president, Fernando Clavijo, has asked for urgent talks with Spain’s prime minister, Pedro Sánchez, today (Monday) as the regional government wants an immediate response to rising the rising number migrant arrivalsto the Canary Islands by sea.
Clavijo sent Sánchez a letter on Saturday requesting six measures, including a contingency plan for the coming months and an extraordinary meeting of the Canary Islands–State Security Board.
He also wants more support from the European Union and regular coordination between the two governments.
Regional government figures published on Sunday show that 3,814 people had arrived in the Canary Islands by sea during October, with 2,776 of them reaching El Hierro.
Clavijo says the recent increase has put pressure on services on the island and wants the State to explain what additional resources it has deployed, or still plans to send.
His proposed contingency plan would cover search and rescue, emergency healthcare, first reception and onward transfers. He has also called for stronger cooperation with Morocco, Mauritania, Senegal and Gambia to prevent dangerous crossings and tackle people-smuggling networks.
Clavijo said he hoped to speak with Sánchez today, Monday, but a meeting had not been confirmed in the information available on Sunday.
The figures and calls for action come from the Canary Islands Government. Separately, Cadena SER reported that more than 250 people were transferred from El Hierro to Tenerife on Saturday, with a further transfer to Gran Canaria planned for Sunday. The Cabildo de El Hierro told the broadcaster that administrations were working together and did not describe the island as saturated.
