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Friday, 9 April 2021, 10:07
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The Canary Islands have been facing double the number of irregular migrants arriving by boat from North Africa compared to a year ago, proving a headache for the Interior ministry amid tensions in the immigrant holding camps.
After a surge late last year, the figures are still high. More than half the immigrants that have arrived in Spain without the correct paperwork in the first three months of this year have come in via the Canary Islands, according to government data.
Compared to January to March 2020, 95 boats arrived on the islands, up from 54 - a total of 3,436 people, up from 1,582.
Spain overall saw 6,496 migrants without proper paperwork entering by land or sea in the first quarter of this year.
Disturbances
Tensions are growing in the centres used to accommodate the migrants while they are being processed by the authorities. On Tuesday this week, National Police fired rubber bullets in the Las Raíces camp on Tenerife after disturbances started. Media reported that the cause was complaints over a lack of food. Eight people were arrested and several injured.
Meanwhile, data has shown the number of migrants arriving by boat on the coast of Malaga province fell in 2020 overall compared to 2019, with 49 boats intercepted compared to 79.
This has been put down not just to Covid-19 but also stricter controls by Moroccan coastal authorities, forcing the smuggling gangs to focus on the longer and more dangerous Canaries sea route.
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