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News, September 2006Sub-Saharan invasion alarms Canaries11th September. Reports daily in the press bring news of yet more illegal 'paperless' immigrants washed up on the shores of the Canary Islands and, this year to a much smaller extent the Spanish mainland. August was the worst month yet, bringing the year's total to 20,000 by 5th September. Meanwhile, at least 700 have died, this being the number of known cases. The European dream of a better life is causing desperate africans to risk all... and the governmet is less and less sure of how to cope. Good weather and calm seas alert the government to the possibility of such arrivals, as sub-Saharans in search of a better life attempt to reach Europe. In the past, the illegals attempted to cross Morocco and take smaller pateras across the straits of Gibrlatar, but effective surveillance and Moroccan cooperation finally put an end to this route after the Africans attempted to storm on several occasions the Spanish enclaves of Ceuta and particularly Melilla. The government is continually putting new and stronger meanures into effect, but there seems no hope of finally putting an end to the migratory flow from West Africa. Likewise, the government is attempting to control arrivals by air from Latin America and overland from Romania, but nothing seems to be sufficient to stop people trying to get into Spain.. and consequently the rest of the EU's Schengen agreement countries. Most illegals are now sent back as soon as possible, but in some cases they get through the net and frequently fall enslaved into the hands of mafias. Early July: once again this summer 'illegals' are attempting the impossible to get to Europe: immigrants have died attempting to cross the Melilla fence, others are arrested as they cross the Straits in small pateras and a larger cayuco turned turtle off the Western Sahara coast, with over 30 dead. Desperation is widespread in western Africa and Spain seems the solution. For many it is sadly the final 'destination'. A BBC reports states: Since the beginning of 2006, up to 10,000 Africans have boarded handmade boats in the hope of getting into Europe, ready to risk death. That is already twice the number recorded in 2005. Officials say more than 1,700 have died along the way and coastguards working off the Canary Islands have rescued hundreds of men, women and children. More about the immigrant wave. |