Escape across the Atlantic: the Canaries are reaching their limits

As the Mediterranean route becomes increasingly risky, more and more migrants try to escape across the Atlantic and end up in the Canary Islands. They are more and more overloaded.

By Marc Dugge and Christina Teuthorn-Mohr, ARD-Studio Madrid, currently. Gran canaria

Francisco’s restaurant reopened today for the first day. There are hardly any guests, the tourist centers in the south of Gran Canaria are still deserted. But the lights are already on in the 4-star hotel across the street.

“There are no tourists there, but migrants who have come to the island,” he says. “A month ago the hotel was closed, now they only opened it to accommodate these people because they don’t know what to do with it.” Currently around 2000 migrants stay in hotels in the Canary Islands. Because the collective housing is already full. More than 800 people are waiting in the temporary reception center in the port of Arguineguin, although it is only designed for half of the people.

Instead of sleeping in comfortable hotel beds, they sleep on blankets on the floor. The pier is a narrow strip: several large tents have been set up there, next to the Dixi toilets.

Red Cross tea and biscuits, showers from the city

“Most of them are completely drenched. To avoid hypothermia, they are given new, dry clothes,” says José Antonio Rodriguez, the head of operations for the local Red Cross, who cares for those who have arrived. “Then you can take a shower and eat something: hot tea and some cookies. Many haven’t eaten in days. It has to be light for your stomach to tolerate it.”

About 80% of the people are Moroccans, but more migrants have recently arrived from Senegal, Rodriguez reports. First of all, everyone must undergo a corona test. They remain in port until the result is available.

Those who test positive are isolated. The temporary agreement has long since become final, says Onalia Bueno, mayor of the city. He calls it “Field of Shame”: “They have only set up twelve showers – that’s not enough to keep them clean. We must not allow the Canaries to turn into a second Lampedusa or Lesbos for migrants.” The mayor asks for more support.

The regional president appeals to the EU

Spain and Europe have left the islands alone, says the regional president of the Canary Islands, Ángel Victor Torres. The crisis requires a supportive response, he said this week in the regional parliament. Because the Canary Islands are as much part of Europe as Madrid, Paris or Brussels.

Torres wants the drama in the port of Gran Canaria to end quickly: “There should be no more migrants there. They must be housed in military or state facilities. We have asked the government to do so,” he says. “But even if we are not legally responsible, we have a responsibility! I will never use human destiny for political purposes.”

What is meant are destinies like that of the eighteen year old Senegalese Daouda. He arrived in Gran Canaria four months ago: on his smartphone he shows a video of the dangerous crossing on the boat that he survived. Every day he comes to Maspalomas City Park to play football.

“There is no work here, no school. All I do is eat, sleep and exercise,” she says. “You have to stay calm and try to get the documents for the outward journey to continental Europe.” A blue plastic ribbon from an all-inclusive hotel hangs from his wrist. Gran Canaria has very different guests this winter season.