From Morocco to Spain: Irregular migrants enter the country by swimming

According to information provided to the Spanish press by the local government of Ceuta, a large group of irregular migrants took advantage of the dense fog early in the morning to attempt to swim into Spain.

Authorities stated that while the majority of the irregular migrants were "pushed back" to the Moroccan side by the Spanish Civil Guard, more than 15 minors managed to enter Ceuta, though the exact number remains unknown.

As the influx of irregular migrants to the region has accelerated recently, it was announced that on August 22, about 350 irregular migrants attempted to cross the border by swimming, with 4 children and 12 adults entering illegally.

Juan Vivas, the president of the autonomous city of Ceuta, complained in a statement to the press on August 23 that the occupancy rate in the shelters allocated for irregular migrants in the city was over 422 percent.

URGENT CALL FOR HELP TO THE GOVERNMENT

Vivas had made an urgent call for help to the central government.

According to official data, more than 650 irregular migrants have entered Ceuta throughout the year, with 230 of them arriving in August alone.

On the other hand, while the influx of irregular migrants from the North and West African coasts toward Spain has increased by 66.2 percent in the last year, the Canary Islands group stands out as the area receiving the most migrants.

According to data from the Spanish Ministry of the Interior, a total of 31 thousand 155 irregular migrants entered Spain between January 1 and August 15, with 22 thousand 304 of them arriving in the Canary Islands.

Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez will visit Mauritania, Senegal, and The Gambia between August 27-29 to find measures against irregular migration.

News Source: 12punto