Name: Canary Islands see surge in migrant deaths amid EU deportation plans
Uploaded: 2025-12-23T18:31:40.687Z
Duration: 2 min 41 s
Description: Thousands of Africans flee war, insecurity, and poverty seeking a better life in Europe. The journey comes at a heavy human cost, with 10,000 deaths or disappearances at sea last year. Most attempted to reach the Canary Islands, a Spanish territory.

Thousands of Africans flee war, insecurity, and poverty seeking a better life in Europe. The journey comes at a heavy human cost, with 10,000 deaths or disappearances at sea last year. Most attempted to reach the Canary Islands, a Spanish territory.

Las Palmas de Gran Canaria

The Canary Islands have seen a surge in migrant deaths as more people attempt the perilous Atlantic crossing from West Africa, seeking better opportunities in Europe. Many migrants, including children and teens traveling alone, face significant dangers at sea and are often sent to child immigration centers upon arrival.

European countries are under growing political pressure to deport undocumented migrants, but aid agencies and human rights groups advocate for integration and stronger protections, especially for minors. Critics argue that deportation policies are only a temporary solution and do not address the root causes of migration.

Canary Islands see surge in migrant deaths amid EU deportation plans

At its closest point, West Africa is less than 100 km from Spain's Canary Islands. But it's also one of the most dangerous migration routes to Europe. Every year, tens of thousands risk the treacherous crossing hoping for a chance at a better life. Bukhari is from Mali. He says he and his 10-year-old son set sail from Mauritania, paying smugglers more than $1,500 to cross the Atlantic. The trauma is still clear on his face. It was difficult, very difficult. Sometimes there's no wind and you're stuck. When the wind is strong, you sail faster. But the sailing was very slow. Whenever we go on the island, we meet people who have made that journey. Salah and his friends arrived a few days ago from Western Sahara. We came here to improve our living conditions and look after our parents. So far, the authorities have treated us well. We saw death at sea, though. We had to embrace death coming here. Many are teens or children travelling alone. Authorities send them to child immigration centres on the island. Aid agencies say some unabused are trafficked to mainland Europe. Our system of protections of minors is strict. Therefore, we will not send them back. Our country is signatory of international conventions protecting minors. We will always look at them as children needing protection. We don't ask where they come from. There's a growing political pressure in Europe to deport migrants. Human rights activists and NGOs argue this should be integrated. Falou says he came from Senegal when he was 16, a journey that took 12 days. Now, he's an aspiring professional wrestler. My dream is to become an established wrestler, build a family here, find a home and have a happy life. But Falou doesn't intend to stay forever. He hopes to reunite with his parents and siblings and insists that one day he will return to Senegal. For now, many European countries hope they'll be able to send undocumented migrants home or to third countries considered to be safe. But many see this as a temporary fix which will slow but not stop the flow of people risking their lives for better opportunities. Hashem al-Bara'a al-Jazeera, Las Palmas, in Gran Canaria.

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