Oviedo (Spain): Spain saw a dramatic surge in illegal migrants arriving by land or sea in 2023, according to statistics published by the Interior Ministry on Wednesday.
Anadolu Agency reported that 56,852 migrants arrived in Spain last year, an 83% increase in irregular arrivals compared to 2022.
The sharpest increase was in the Canary Islands, which broke records for the number of migrants reaching its shores via the treacherous Atlantic route. In 2023, 39,910 arrivals were recorded, an increase of 154% compared to 2022.
In total, 2023 saw the second-largest irregular migrant arrivals in the country’s modern history. This was surpassed in 2018, when more than 64,000 people entered Spain.
One of the keys to understanding last year’s surge in arrivals is a significant increase in the number of small boats making the perilous journey from Senegal to El Hierro, a small island in the Canary Islands.
Senegal’s government enacted emergency measures in November to stem the growing exodus as people fled persecution in search of better opportunities in Europe.
In 2023, Spain became the second most popular destination for irregular migrants within the European Union.
For comparison, 155,754 migrants arrived in Italy, a 50% increase compared to 2022, according to government statistics.
Meanwhile, Greece, the country with the third highest number of irregular arrivals, recorded 48,564 arrivals in 2023, according to UN data.
Spain’s Interior Ministry does not publish data on the number of migrants who have died trying to reach Spanish shores. But the number of people taking the dangerous Canary Island route is at a record high, and that number could be record-breaking.
Spanish migration group Walking Borders estimated that 2,390 people died trying to reach Spain in 2022.
According to the non-governmental organization, most of the tragic deaths (1,784 people) occurred while people were trying to reach the Canary Islands. – Bernama, Anadolu Region