Spain announced an additional €50 million in aid to help the Canary Islands deal with the influx of over 5,500 unaccompanied migrant children and teenagers. Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez met with regional President Fernando Clavijo to discuss the issue of irregular migration and the strain it has put on the islands’ resources.
The Canary Islands, located closer to northwestern Africa than mainland Spain, have become a major entry point for irregular migrants into the European Union. While adult migrants typically move on to mainland Spain or other parts of Europe, unaccompanied minors remain under the care of the overwhelmed regional government.
Spain’s Minister for Territorial Policy and Democratic Memory, Ángel Victor Torres, announced the €50 million allocation, which had been omitted this year. The funds will help provide care and support for the thousands of unaccompanied children and teenagers currently living in overcrowded shelters with limited access to essential services.
Despite the challenges, discussions between Sánchez and Clavijo were described as productive, with a focus on finding long-term solutions that may include legislative changes to ensure solidarity among Spain’s regions. However, a recent attempt to pass a law requiring other regions to take in some of the unaccompanied minors failed in July.
The Canary Islands have seen a 126% increase in arrivals from West Africa this year, making the Atlantic route one of the deadliest migration routes in the world. Spain’s commitment to providing aid and working towards sustainable solutions is a step in the right direction in addressing the ongoing humanitarian crisis in the region.
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