El Hierro Declares Emergency as Migrant Arrivals Surge to Unsustainable Levels

The island of El Hierro, part of Spain's Canary Islands archipelago, has declared an emergency and formally requested assistance from the government in Madrid due to a significant increase in migrant and refugee arrivals. Alpidio Armas, head of the governing council for El Hierro, expressed deep concern over the sharp rise in arrivals, stating, “We are very concerned… by this sharp increase in arrivals.” He further explained that this situation necessitated the emergency declaration to establish a framework for cooperation with higher-level institutions. Local authorities report that over 3,300 individuals have arrived on the island in approximately 30 boats since the beginning of November. El Hierro has a resident population of about 11,400. Officials are currently working to secure temporary accommodation for the new arrivals, and Armas noted that the conditions at the island's hospital have become “undesirable.” The regional leader of the Canary Islands, Fernando Clavijo, described the situation as “absolutely unsustainable.”

Maritime rescue services reported rescuing 3,261 migrants and refugees off the Canary Islands coast in the first six days of November. Clavijo indicated that these numbers are nearing the record levels observed in 2024, with some days experiencing an even higher pace of arrivals. To manage the influx, buses have been rerouted to assist with migration operations, and medical personnel have been deployed from other islands.

The Atlantic route from West Africa to the Canary Islands is recognized as one of the most perilous migration routes globally. This week, two individuals were found deceased on a boat bound for the Canaries, and five others are believed to have perished during the journey, according to survivor accounts. In recent weeks, at least nine migrants or refugees have lost their lives off the islands. Arrivals had previously reached a record high of over 46,000 in 2024 but subsequently decreased due to enhanced surveillance and improved cooperation with origin and transit countries. Spain's Ministry of the Interior reported that between January and October, 13,327 irregular migrants and refugees arrived by sea, a 5.5 percent decrease compared to the same period last year. Increased patrols off Senegal, Mauritania, and Morocco have reportedly pushed departures further south, originating from The Gambia, Guinea-Bissau, and Guinea, thereby extending the crossing distances. Senegalese police confirmed on Saturday the interception of 142 migrants, including women and young children, off the coast of Dakar.