More than 1,500 migrants arrived on Spanish islands in the Atlantic and Mediterranean in just a few days, with over 1,400 reaching the Canary Islands and at least 111 arriving in the Balearics. One person was confirmed dead.
On February 13, Spanish rescue services reported that 217 migrants, including women and a child, had landed in the Canaries. Earlier in the week, over 1,300 migrants arrived, with a boat sinking off El Hierro, leaving one dead and at least one missing.
In 2024, Spain saw 64,000 migrant arrivals, a 12.5% increase from 2023. The Canary Islands, overwhelmed by the influx, have requested €26 million from the central government for healthcare costs, far exceeding the €4.4 million allocated.
Lawmakers voted to support additional funding for migrant healthcare, though the far-right Vox party opposed it. The Canaries are also pushing for the redistribution of 4,500 migrant minors across Spain, but disagreements persist, particularly with northern regions like Catalonia and the Basque Country.
Officials warn that migration pressure will only increase, straining local resources and healthcare services. The Canary Islands’ President, Fernando Clavijo, hopes for a funding agreement with the central government by March.
