The president of the Canary Islands, Fernando Clavijo, announced that Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez has agreed to convene an emergency meeting of the Interministerial Commission on Immigration on Tuesday to address the growing pressure on the island of El Hierro following a recent surge in migrant arrivals.
Clavijo said he had briefed the prime minister on the severity of the situation on the island and the mounting discontent among residents.
Between 1 and 6 November, 49 boats carrying a total of 4 587 migrants arrived in the Canary Islands, according to the regional government. Of these, 35 reached El Hierro, where authorities say the pressure on local resources is “extraordinary.”
Clavijo said the Canary Islands have been calling for months for additional resources, better planning and a coordinated governmental response to deal with the situation.
“This meeting must serve to agree, between both governments and the relevant ministries, on a joint action plan, with specific, responsible measures and deadlines for implementation,” Clavijo wrote on social media. “We cannot continue to act only when the situation worsens.”
He also requested “urgent meetings” with European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen and European Commissioner for Internal Affairs and Migration Magnus Brunner.
“The Canary Islands cannot continue to face, practically on their own, a situation that requires the involvement of the Spanish government and Europe,” Clavijo added.
