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Dozens of migrants rescued off Canary Islands

Sunday, 27 March 2022 11:25 PM [ Last Update: Sunday, 27 March 2022 11:25 PM ]

Spanish coast guard rescued on Sunday 64 migrants intercepted off Canary Islands and brought them to Arguineguin port, in the Gran Canaria island.

The group of migrants included 63 men and one woman.

One of them needed medical attention after being disembarked on stretcher.

This weekend rescue workers have intercepted dozens of migrants trying to reach the Spanish islands after almost a month of inactivity.

A total of 5,552 migrants have arrived in the region until March 15, according to latest ministry figures.

That is 115 % more than the same period last year.

Spain's Canary Islands off the coast of West Africa have become the main destination for migrants trying to reach Europe.

Last year was one of the busiest for such crossings in the past decade, according to interior ministry data.

A total of 22,316 migrants arrived in the Canaries illegally in 2021, compared with 23,271 the previous year.

Walking Borders rights group said more than 4,400 migrants, including at least 205 children, were lost at sea trying to reach Spain in 2021, more than double the figure from 2020 and the most since the group began counting in 2018.

(Source: Reuters)

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